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Volatile components in defensive spray of the hog-nosed skunk,Conepatus mesoleucus

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Abstract

GC-MS analysis of the anal sac secretion from the hog-nosed skunk,Conepatus mesoleucus, showed two major volatile components, (E)-2-butene-1-thiol and (E)-S-2-butenyl thioacetate. Minor volatile components identified from this secretion were phenylmethanethiol, 2-methylquinoline, 2-quinolinemethanethiol, and bis[(E)-2-butenyl] disulfide. 3-Methyl-1-butanethiol, a major component in the defensive spray of the striped skunk,Mephitis mephitis, and the spotted skunk,Spilogale putorius, was absent from this secretion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Humboldt State University, 95521, Arcata, California

    William F. Wood & Christoph O. Fisher

  2. Animal Damage Control, USDA, APHIS, 1960 W. North Lane, 85021, Phoenix, Arizona

    Gary A. Graham

Authors
  1. William F. Wood
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  2. Christoph O. Fisher
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  3. Gary A. Graham
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Wood, W.F., Fisher, C.O. & Graham, G.A. Volatile components in defensive spray of the hog-nosed skunk,Conepatus mesoleucus . J Chem Ecol 19, 837–841 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985013

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985013

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