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Biol Lett

Title:		An airborne sex pheromone in snakes
Author(s):		Shine R; Mason RT;
Address:		"School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. rick.shine@sydney.edu.au"
Journal Title:		Biol Lett
Year:		2012
Volume:		20111012
Issue:		2
Page Number:		183 - 185
DOI:		10.1098/rsbl.2011.0802
ISSN/ISBN:		1744-957X (Electronic) 1744-9561 (Print) 1744-9561 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Most reptile sex pheromones so far described are lipid molecules too large to diffuse through the air; instead, they are detected via direct contact (tongue-flicking) with another animal's body or substrate-deposited trails, using the vomeronasal system. The only non-lipid pheromone reported in snakes involves courtship termination in red-sided gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis): males that encounter copulatory fluids cease courtship, presumably reflecting the futility of courting an already-mating female. Our field experiments at a communal den in Manitoba show that this pheromone can work via olfaction: courtship is terminated by exposure to airborne scents from mating conspecifics, and does not require direct contact (tongue-flicking). Hence, the sexual behaviour of reptiles can be affected by airborne as well as substrate-bound pheromones"
Keywords:		"Animals Colubridae/*physiology Courtship Female Male *Olfactory Perception Sex Attractants/*physiology *Sexual Behavior, Animal Statistics, Nonparametric;"
Notes:		"MedlineShine, R Mason, R T eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/10/14 Biol Lett. 2012 Apr 23; 8(2):183-5. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0802. Epub 2011 Oct 12"