Detection of conspecific odors by the female broad‐headed skink, Eumeces laticeps

Abstract

AbstractThe potential abilities of adult female E. laticeps to detect conspecific odors and to discriminate between male and female conspecific odors were investigated by comparisons of tongue extrusion rates emitted in response to chemical stimuli presented on moist cotton applicators. Postreproductive females treated with estradiol‐17β to stimulate possible increases in sensitivity to odors associated with the breeding season showed significantly higher tongue‐flick rates to the cloacal odors of both sexes than to distilled water. There was no evidence that the females discerned any difference between male and female odors. Estrogen‐injected females had somewhat higher tongue‐flick rates than did untreated postreproductive females, but the differences were not significant. Tongue extrusion rates of estrogen‐injected females were substantially lower than those of testosterone‐implanted males for all odor stimuli. It is argued, but not demonstrated, that female E. laticeps respond to the cloacal odors as stimuli arising from conspecific or at least closely related skinks.