Sex pheromones in amphibians: a review

Abstract

Amphibians are interesting animals, very often kept by aquarists and vivarists. Their ability of intraspecific chemical signalization belongs to very interesting biological features. The skin glands of anurans secrete various biologically active compounds. The pheromones are peptides consisting of various numbers of amino acid residues and their synthesis is regulated by hormones (e.g. prolactin and androgens). Similarly, the responsiveness of the vomeronasal epithelium to some of these compounds is enhanced by some hormonal substances (prolactin and oestrogen). Hypophyseal hormones, arginine vasotocin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone are involved in the humoral regulation of pheromone discharge. The storage of some compounds with pheromonal activity in a biologically inactive form was also proved. The pheromones have an important role in sexual relationships. These chemosignals increase female receptivity and are probably involved in the mate choice. The courtship pheromone signals may be conserved across related species. Chemosignals play an important role in female attraction and/or territorial announcement. In addition to sex pheromones, various neuropeptides, antimicrobial and other biologically active peptides were found in skin glands of these amphibians. The infochemical system can be disturbed by a chemical influence in the environment.

The anuran vocal sac: a tool for multimodal signalling

“…The chemicals found in L. splendida , L. fallax and in Hymenochirus sp. are peptides and therefore can only be spread passively in water, but not as airborne chemical cues on land ( Houck, 1998, 2009; Rajchard, 2005 ).…”

Volatile compound secretion coincides with modifications of the olfactory organ in mantellid frogs

“…In amphibians, chemical communication is long known to be of paramount importance in salamanders (Houck, ). Recent studies suggest that chemical cues also play a major role in mate choice and territorial behaviour of numerous anurans (Hamlett, Strecker & Trauth, ; Wabnitz et al ., ; Pearl et al ., ; Waldman & Bishop, ; Rajchard, ; Belanger & Corkum, ; Woodley, ; Hamer, Lemckert & Banks, ; Treer et al ., ), in several cases involving volatile compounds (Poth et al ., , ; Starnberger et al ., ). This applies especially to Madagascar frogs in the family Mantellidae where a subgroup (the subfamily Mantellinae) has derived macroglands on their thighs (femoral glands; Vences et al ., ), secreting macrolides and alcohols (Poth et al ., , ).…”

Ranatensin-HL: A Bombesin-Related Tridecapeptide from the Skin Secretion of the Broad-Folded Frog, Hylarana latouchii

“…Such roles include respiration, camouflage, temperature control and chemical defence against encountered predators and pathogens [ 1 ]. The latter function is dependent on the secretions of highly specialised granular glands spread on the dorsal skin surface which contain a multitude of biologically-active peptides including antimicrobials, anticarcinogens, pheromones, neuropeptides and protease inhibitors [ 2 , 3 ]. One common class of peptides found in amphibian skin is the bombesin-related peptides, whose prototype is represented by bombesin, a tetradecapeptide originally isolated from the skin of Bombina bombina by Anastasi et al as early as 1971 [ 4 ].…”