Chemical Compounds from Femoral Gland Secretions of Male Iberian Rock Lizards, Lacerta monticola cyreni

2005 ◽  
Vol 60 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 632-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín
Keyword(s):  
Carboxylic Acids ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Lipophilic Compounds ◽  
Esters Of Carboxylic Acids ◽  
The Social ◽  
High Interindividual Variability ◽  
Femoral Gland Secretions

In spite of the importance of chemoreception and chemical signals in the social organization of lizards, there are only a few studies examining the chemical composition of secretions of lizards used for scent marking. The secretion of the femoral glands of male Iberian rock lizards (Lacerta monticola cyreni) contains 44 lipophilic compounds, including several steroids (mainly cholesterol), and n-C6 to n-C22 carboxylic acids, and minor components such as esters of carboxylic acids, alcohols, squalene, and one lactone. These compounds were identified on the basis of mass spectra, obtained by GC-MS. Most lipids were detected in all individuals, although relative proportions of each chemical show a high interindividual variability. This variability might be related to the characteristics or physical and health condition of males and might be the basis of female choice based on chemical cues observed in this lizard species.

Age Related Differences in Lipophilic Compounds Found in Femoral Gland Secretions of Male Spiny-footed Lizards, Acanthodactylus erythrurus

2005 ◽  
Vol 60 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 915-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín
Keyword(s):  
Carboxylic Acids ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Minor Components ◽  
Lipophilic Compounds ◽  
Femoral Glands ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Esters Of Carboxylic Acids ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Femoral Gland Secretions ◽  
First Time

Although chemoreception plays an important role in social organization of many lizards, only a few studies have examined the chemicals found in secretions used for intraspecific communication. We report the composition of the secretion of the femoral glands of males of the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus). On the basis of mass spectra, obtained by GC/MS, we identified 45 lipophilic compounds, including several alcohols ranging from 10 to 29 carbon atoms (mainly hexacosanol and tetracosanol), steroids (mainly cholesterol and dehydrocholesterol), n-C9 to n-C20 carboxylic acids, esters of carboxylic acids, and minor components such as lactones, ketones, squalene and α-tocopherol. Some of these compounds are reported for the first time in lizards. Adult and subadult males differed in the composition of secretions, with C9 to C15 carboxylic acids being more abundant in younger than in older lizards, whereas C16 to C20 carboxylic acids were more abundant in older lizards. Also, older lizards had significant lower proportions of cholesterol and campesterol but higher proportions of dehydrocholesterol.

Lipophilic Compounds from the Femoral Gland Secretions of Male Hungarian Green Lizards, Lacerta viridis

2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 434-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Kopena ◽  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Sexual Signals ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Specific Chemical ◽  
Lipophilic Compounds ◽  
Lacerta Viridis ◽  
Femoral Gland Secretions

In spite of the importance of chemical signals (pheromones) in the reproductive behaviour of lizards, only a few studies have examined the role of specific chemical compounds as sexual signals. The secreted chemicals vary widely between species but whether this variation reflects phylogenetic or environmental differences remains unclear. Based on mass spectra, obtained by GC-MS, we found 40 lipophilic compounds in femoral gland secretions of male green lizards (Lacerta viridis), including several steroids, α-tocopherol, and esters of n-C16 to n-C20 carboxylic acids, and minor components such as alcohols between C12 and C20, squalene, three lactones and one ketone. We compared these chemicals with those previously found in other closely related green lizard species, and discussed how phylogenetical differences and/or environmental conditions could be responsible for the differential presence of chemicals in different lizard species.

scholarly journals Chemical Constituents of the Femoral Gland Secretions of Male Tegu Lizards (Tupinambis merianae) (Family Teiidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 66 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 434-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Martína ◽  
Silvia Chamut ◽  
Mario E. Manes ◽  
Pilar López
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Sexual Signals ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Lipophilic Compounds ◽  
Tupinambis Merianae ◽  
Femoral Gland Secretions ◽  
Octadecadienoic Acids ◽  
Very High

In spite of the importance of chemical signals (pheromones) in the reproductive behaviour of lizards, the chemical compounds secreted by their femoral glands, which may be used as sexual signals, are only known for a few lizard species. Based on mass spectra, obtained by GC-MS, we found 49 lipophilic compounds in femoral gland secretions of male tegu lizards (Tupinambis merianae) (fam. Teiidae), including a very high proportion of carboxylic acids and their esters ranging between n-C8 and n-C20 (mainly octadecanoic and 9,12-octadecadienoic acids), with much less proportions of steroids, tocopherol, aldehydes, and squalene. We discuss the potential function of these compounds in secretions, and compare the compounds found here with those documented for other lizard species.

Lipids in the Femoral Gland Secretions of Male Schreiber’s Green Lizards, Lacerta schreiberi

2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 763-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Chemical Stability ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Minor Components ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Lipophilic Compounds ◽  
Femoral Glands ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Femoral Gland Secretions

AbstractIn spite of the importance of chemoreception and chemical signals in social organization of lizards, only a few studies have examined the chemical composition of secretions that lizards use for intraspecific communication. The secretion of the femoral glands of male Schreiber’s green lizards (Lacerta schreiberi) contains 51 lipophilic compounds, including several steroids, α-tocopherol, n-C9 to n-C22 carboxylic acids and their esteres, and minor components such as alcohols between C12 and C24, two lactones, two ketones, and squalene. These compounds were identified on the basis of mass spectra, obtained by GC-MS. We compared these chemicals with those found in other lizard species, and discussed how environmental conditions could explain the differential presence of chemicals in different lizards. Particularly, the high abundance of α-tocopherol in this lizard is suggested to contribute to avoid oxidation of other lipids in secretions, increasing chemical stability of scent marks in the humid conditions of its habitat.

scholarly journals Chemical Compounds from the Preanal Gland Secretions of the Male Tree Agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) (Fam. Agamidae)

2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 253-258
Author(s):  
José Martín ◽  
Jesús Ortega ◽  
Pilar López
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Sexual Signals ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Lipophilic Compounds ◽  
Male Tree ◽  
Octadecenoic Acids ◽  
Minor Compounds

Chemical signals have an important role in the reproductive behaviour of many lizards. However, the compounds secreted by their femoral or preanal glands, which may be used as sexual signals, are mainly known for lizard species within the Scleroglossa clade, whereas compounds in secretions of lizards within the Iguania clade are much less studied. Based on mass spectra, obtained by GC-MS, we found 60 lipophilic compounds in preanal gland secretions of the male tree agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) (fam. Agamidae), including steroids (mainly cholesterol, cholest-3-ene, and some of their derivatives), fatty acids ranging between n-C12 and n-C18 (mainly hexadecanoic and octadecenoic acids), ketones from n-C17 to n-C25, and other minor compounds, such as tocopherol, squalene, waxy esters, and furanones. We compare the compounds found with those present in other lizard species and discuss their potential function in social behaviour

scholarly journals Chemical characterization of the lipids in femoral gland secretions of wild male tegu lizards, Salvator merianae (Squamata, Teiidae) in comparison with captive-bred males

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 443-449
Author(s):  
Carolina N. Ramiro ◽  
José Martín ◽  
Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior ◽  
Hugo B. A. Pinto ◽  
Arnaldo José C. Magalhães Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Lipophilic Compounds ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Femoral Gland Secretions ◽  
Femoral Secretions

AbstractAlthough chemical interactions play an essential role in lizard social behavior, the chemical composition of the femoral gland secretions that many lizards use for communication is known for only a few species, mainly European Lacertids. The tegu lizard, Salvator merianae, is the only species of the Teiidae family for which there is available information on lipids in femoral secretions, but only for captive bred males from Argentina. Here, based on mass spectra obtained by GC-MS, we found 69 lipophilic compounds in femoral gland secretions of wild males S. merianae from Brazil, including cholesterol and high amounts of saturated fatty acids (mainly hexadecanoic and octadecanoic). We found contrasting differences between wild and captive-bred males, which lack cholesterol but present high amount of 9,12-octadecadienoic acid. These within-species differences between wild and captive lizards strongly suggest the important influence of different diets on the chemical composition of the femoral gland secretion and suggest caution when interpreting results from captive animals, even in the same species.

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