An airborne sex pheromone in snakes.
Biol Lett
; 8(2): 183-5, 2012 Apr 23.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21992822
ABSTRACT
Most reptile sex pheromones so far described are lipid molecules too large to diffuse through the air; instead, they are detected via direct contact (tongue-flicking) with another animal's body or substrate-deposited trails, using the vomeronasal system. The only non-lipid pheromone reported in snakes involves courtship termination in red-sided gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) males that encounter copulatory fluids cease courtship, presumably reflecting the futility of courting an already-mating female. Our field experiments at a communal den in Manitoba show that this pheromone can work via olfaction courtship is terminated by exposure to airborne scents from mating conspecifics, and does not require direct contact (tongue-flicking). Hence, the sexual behaviour of reptiles can be affected by airborne as well as substrate-bound pheromones.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atrativos Sexuais
/
Comportamento Sexual Animal
/
Colubridae
/
Percepção Olfatória
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Biol Lett
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article