Volatile components in dorsal gland secretions of the white-lipped peccary, Tayassu pecari, from Bolivia

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 2459 - 2469
• Main Authors: WATERHOUSE, John S, HUDSON, Mark, PICKETT, John A, WELDON, Paul J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.12.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Carboxylic Acids - analysis; Carboxylic Acids - chemistry; Diterpenes - analysis; Diterpenes - chemistry; Exocrine Glands - chemistry; farnesyl esters; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Isomerism; Lactones - analysis; Lactones - chemistry; Male; Mammalia; Mammals - physiology; Mass spectrometry; springene; Tayassu pecari; Vertebrata; South America; Bolivia; America; Volatile compound; Ester; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Chemical analysis; Back (anatomy); Secretion; Phenols; Artiodactyla; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1013675431162

Secretions from the dorsal gland of male and female free-ranging adult white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) from Bolivia were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fifty compounds were identified, some provisionally. Secretions of both sexes contain saturated and unsaturated C5-C18 carboxylic acids as well as isomers of the diterpene springene. The females' secretions uniquely possess farnesyl esters of C8 and C10 carboxylic acids, whereas the males' secretions uniquely showed two compounds provisionally identified as monounsaturated C16 lactones. Saturated high-molecular-weight esters of C10 carboxylic acids are more abundant in the females' secretions than in those of the males. The secretions of both sexes also contain monoalkanoate esters of methylhydroquinone as major components.