Volatile components in defensive spray of the hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 28; no. 9; pp. 1865 - 1870
• Main Authors: WOOD, William F, SOLLERS, Brian G, DRAGOO, Gwen A, DRAGOON, Jerry W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.09.2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerosols; Anal Sacs - chemistry; Anal Sacs - secretion; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Mammalia; Mammals; Mephitidae; Stereoisomerism; Sulfhydryl Compounds - analysis; Vertebrata; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Volatilization; Volatile compound; Predator prey relation; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Chemical analysis; Defensive secretion; Mephitis macroura; anal sac secretion; 2-methylquinoline; Vertebrata; (E)-2-butene-1-thiol; Mammalia; Anal gland; 2-phenylethanethiol; 2- quin-olinemethanethiol; 3-methyl-1-butanethiol; S-(E)-2-butenyl thioacetate; Mephitidae; hooded skunk; Odoriferous secretion; S-3-methylbutenyl thioacetate
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1020573404341

GC-MS analysis of the anal sac secretion from the hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura, showed the following seven major components comprised 99% of the volatiles in this secretion: (E)-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, S-(E)-2-butenyl thioacetate, S-3-methylbutenyl thioacetate, 2-phenylethanethiol, 2-methylquinoline, and 2-quinolinemethanethiol. Minor volatile components identified in this secretion are phenylmethanethiol, S-phenylmethyl thioacetate. S-2-phenylethyl thioacetate, bis[(E)-2-butenyl] disulfide, (E)-2-butenyl 3-methylbutyl disulfide, bis(3-methylbutyl) disulfide, and S-2-quinolinemethyl thioacetate. This secretion is similar to that of the striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, differing only in that it contains four compounds not reported from the striped skunk: phenylmethanethiol, S-phenylmethyl thioacetate, 2-phenylethanethiol, and S-2-phenylethyl thioacetate.