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Benzoquinones and Hydroquinones in Defensive Secretions of Tropical Millipedes

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Abstract

 The defensive secretions of two tropical species of millipedes (the spirostreptid Telodeinopus aoutii and a species of Harpagophoridae) contain a complex mixture of closely related benzoquinones and hydroquinones. The major compounds are toluquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methylbenzoquinone, accompanied by the minor components, 2,3-dimethoxybenzoquinone and toluhydroquinone. Because of the large size and the geographic separation of the test animals a common defensive strategy of tropical, large millipedes against predation by vertebrates is assumed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie II, Universität Bayreuth, Postfach 101251, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany e-mail: angela.huth@uni-bayreuth.de, Tel.: +49-921-552734, , , , , , DE

    R. Deml & A. Huth

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  1. R. Deml
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  2. A. Huth
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Received: 30 August 1999 / Accepted in revised form: 20 October 1999

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Deml, R., Huth, A. Benzoquinones and Hydroquinones in Defensive Secretions of Tropical Millipedes. Naturwissenschaften 87, 80–82 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050014

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050014

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