VOLATILE COMPONENTS IN SCENT GLAND SECRETIONS OF GARTER SNAKES (THAMNOPHIS SPP)

Previous analyses of the scent gland secretions of snakes have focused on the nonvolatile components. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry o f secretions from North American garter snakes (Thamnophis butleri, T. couchi, T. elegans, T. me[anogaster, and T. sirtalis) indicated the f ollowing seven major volatile components: acetic, propanoic, 2-methylp ropanoic, butanoic, and 3-methylbutanoic acids, trimethylamine, and 2- piperidone. Five or more of these compounds were observed in secretion s of select bold, colubrid, pythonid, and viperid snakes, suggesting t hat they are widespread scent gland products. 3-Methylbutanal also was detected in some snake species.