Volatile components in scent gland secretions of garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.)

Abstract

Previous analyses of the scent gland secretions of snakes have focused on the nonvolatile components. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of secretions from North American garter snakes (Thamnophis butleri, T. couchi, T. elegans, T. melanogaster, andT. sirtalis) indicated the following seven major volatile components: acetic, propanoic, 2-methylpropanoic, butanoic, and 3-methylbutanoic acids, trimethylamine, and 2-piperidone. Five or more of these compounds were observed in secretions of select boid, colubrid, pythonid, and viperid snakes, suggesting that they are widespread scent gland products. 3-Methylbutanal also was detected in some snake species.

Natural products from the integument of nonavian reptiles

“…90 The volatile compounds from the scent glands of boid, colubrid, crotaline, and/or elapid snakes include phenol, 3-methylbutanal, and acetic, propanoic, 2-methylpropanoic, butanoic, 2-methylbutanoic, 3-methylbutanoic, methylbenzoic, phenylacetic, and 3-phenylpropanoic acids, all of which are strongly odorous. 19,79,96 2-Lactic acid occurs in Dumeril's ground boa (Acrantophis dumerili), along with 1 and unknown terpenoids. 91 The nitrogenous compounds from the scent glands include trimethylamine (in boids and colubrids) and 2-piperidone (in boids and viperids).…”

Scent gland constituents of the Middle American burrowing python, Loxocemus bicolor (Serpentes: Loxocemidae)

“…Carboxylic acids evidently are ubiquitous scent gland products of snakes, having been documented in colubrids [12], boids [6,8,12], pythonids [12], elapids [7], viperids [9,10], and leptotyphlopids [5]. These compounds typically possess 2-26 carbon atoms and chiefly feature saturated or monounsaturated straight chains.…”

“…These compounds typically possess 2-26 carbon atoms and chiefly feature saturated or monounsaturated straight chains. Lower molecular weight acids (C 4 and C 5 ) with a single methyl branch [8,12], hydroxypropanoic acid [6,8], methylbenzoic acid [9], and phenylacetic as well as phenylpropanoic acids [7][8][9] also have been documented in some species. The fatty acids of Loxocemus bicolor include some of the straightchain compounds reported in other snakes, but distinctly contain more than 65 mono-, di-, and trimethyl-branched compounds, and many compounds with one, two, or three double bonds.…”

“…Cholesterol [6][7][8][9][10][11], which is a common tetrapod skin lipid, and carboxylic acids [5][6][7][8][9][10]12] are widely documented in scent gland secretions. Nitrogen-containing compounds, including piperidone [12], amines [8,12], and amides [8,9], also have been indicated in some taxa. 1-O-Monoalkylglycerols have been reported in the secretions of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) [11].…”

Olfactory Evolution: Mice Rethink Stink

“…This notion is neatly illustrated by some plants relying on deception for pollination actively producing TMA to lure carrion insects into performing transfer of pollen [11]. The aversive nature of TMA is also evident from its presence in the defensive secretions of certain snakes, where it presumably serves an anti-predatory function [12].…”