ANAL GLAND SECRETION OF EUROPEAN MOLE - VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS AND SIGNIFICANCE IN TERRITORIAL MAINTENANCE

The chemical composition of the volatile components of the anal gland secretion of mature and immature moles of both sexes was examined by g as chromatography and mass spectrometry. The compounds in the secretio n of adult males appear to vary little throughout the year and are sim ilar to those from the adult female outside the breeding season. The s ecretions are dominated by C-5-C-10 carboxylic acids. Female glands re gress as they enter proestrus, accompanied by profound changes in the chemical composition of the secretion with early disappearance of the carboxylic acids. In juvenile moles, the compostion of the secretion c hanges as the animal matures, with carboxylic acids becoming dominant only as the animal reaches maturity. Anal gland secretion probably pla ys an important role in territorial maintenance.