Electrophoresis of chin gland extracts of Gopherus (tortoises)

Natural products from the integument of nonavian reptiles

“…1 The identifications of long-chain alcohols and methyl ketones from squamates, dianeackerone (132) and other ethyl-branched lipids from crocodylians, and numerous other compounds isolated from reptiles, are consistent with this view. The biological significance of these novel structures remains to be clarified.…”

“…132 Males of the closely related desert and Bolson's tortoises displayed a band that was absent in the secretions of other males, and only male desert and Texas tortoises displayed bands denoting esterase activity. Females of all species displayed a band that was absent in males.…”

Structure and Function of Skin Glands

“…Two categories of glands have been distinguished in lizards by Maderson and Chiu (1970;Maderson, 1970Maderson, , 1972: (1) "generation glands," whose secretory activity is linked to adjacent keratinizing epidermis and periodic sloughing; and (2) "preanal organs," morphologically more gland-like and more differentiated from epidermal keratinization and related processes. Early as well as recent investigations on glandular structures in the skins of other reptile groups demonstrate diverse,mostly holocrine,secretory units with chemical and probably functional individuality (Reese, 1921;Muller, 1961;Rose et al, 1969;Rose, 1970;Kroll and Reno, 1971;Winokur and Legler, 1975;Oldak, 1976;and many others). Additional references, especially on lacertilian glands, can be found in Cole (1966), Maderson (1972) and Quay (1972).…”

Interspecific differences in chemosensory responses of freshwater turtles: consequences for competition between native and invasive species

“…Many turtles have several specialized glands that secrete potential semiochemicals (Ehrenfeld and Ehrenfeld 1973;Winokur and Legler 1975;Solomon 1984;Legler 1993). These glands are quiescent in juveniles, sexually dimorphic (larger in males), and active during the breeding season only (Rose et al 1969). Cloacal secretions and faeces are also considered as possible sources of semiochemicals (Mason 1992).…”