Scent gland

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Scent gland
Anal glands of a large Indian civet and a small Indian civet
The arrow is pointing to the metatarsal gland of a Sika deer
Details
Identifiers
Latinglandula odorifera
MeSHD012543
Anatomical terminology

Scent gland are

territorial marking, mood, and sexual behaviour. The odor may be subliminal—not consciously detectable.[1][2] Though it is not their primary function, the salivary glands
may also function as scent glands in some animals.

In even-toed ungulates

The

tarsal glands (located inside of the hind legs),[3] and the inguinal glands in the lower belly or groin area.[4]

Like many other species of Artiodactyla, deer have seven major external scent glands distributed throughout their bodies.[3] Deer rely heavily on these scent glands to communicate with other members of their species, and possibly even with members of other species. For example, male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are often seen working over a scrape. First, the animal scrapes at the dirt with its hooves, depositing the scent from his interdigital gland on the ground. After that, he may bite the tip off an overhanging branch, depositing secretions from his salivary glands onto the branch. He may then rub his face on the overhanging branch, depositing secretions from the sudoriferous and preorbital glands on it.[5]

The interdigital glands of male and female black-tailed deer contain three volatile ketones, 2-tridecanone, (E)-3-tridecen-2-one and (E)-4-tridecen-2-one. (E)-3-tridecen-2-one was shown to have antibiotic activity against some skin pathogens.[6][7] These compounds are absent from white-tailed deer interdigital glands, which contain a number of 2-Methylcarboxylic acids. [8]

The tarsal gland appears to operate by a different mechanism than the other external scent glands. A behavior called

olfactory communication in deer.[2]

In carnivorans

prescrotal glands.[10]

wolves,[11] bears,[12] sea otters[13] and kinkajous.[14]

In other animals

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-0471102533
    .
  2. ^
    ISSN 0340-1022
    .
  3. ^ a b Nickens, TE (2009-11-05). "Understanding seven deer glands". Field & Stream Online. New York: Field & Stream. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  4. ISBN 9783540213086
    .
  5. ^ "Understanding deer glands". Huntley, Illinois: Hunting Network, LLC. 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  6. doi:10.1007/BF01928897
    .
  7. doi:10.1007/BF02035141
    .
  8. doi:10.1016/S0305-1978(98)00053-2
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0-520-08085-0
    . Scent glands.
  10. JSTOR 3503919
    . Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  11. ^
    ISBN 978-0-226-51698-1
    .
  12. ISBN 978-0-7216-1332-1
    .
  13. ^ Kenyon, KW (1969). The Sea Otter in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.
  14. ^ Ford, LS; Hoffman, RS (1988). "Potos flavus". Mammalian Species (321): 1–9.
    JSTOR 3504086
    .
  15. JSTOR 1379814
    .
  16. PMID 18663393
    – via Researchgate.
  17. ISBN 978-0-8014-8493-3
    .
  18. ^ Beauchamp, Gary K. "The perineal scent gland and social dominance in the male guinea pig." Physiology & behavior 13.5 (1974): 669-673.
  19. ^ Roze, U., et al. "Microanatomy and bacterial flora of the perineal glands of the North American porcupine." Canadian Journal of Zoology 88.1 (2009): 59-68.
  20. ^ Fox, Michael W., and James A. Cohen. "Canid communication." How animals communicate (1977): 728-748.
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