Abstract
The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is an invasive species in Okinawa and Amami-Oshima, Japan. Major strategies for their eradication have been the use of baited traps, which suffer from decreasing efficiency with declining populations and the bycatch of native animals. To address these concerns, mongoose-specific lures are required. In this study, we aimed to identify species- and/or sex-specific compounds from anal sac secretions of small Indian mongooses. Volatile compounds emitted from male and female mongoose anal sac secretions were analyzed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition to several fatty acids, 2-phenylethanol was identified as a minor compound, which is uncommon in mammalian secretions but a dominant odorant in roses. Female samples emitted higher levels of 2-phenylethanol than male samples did. These findings indicate that 2-phenylethanol is a female-specific volatile compound of anal sac secretions in small Indian mongooses, and it may be useful as an ingredient of mongoose-specific scent lures.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to identify male and/or female mongoose-specific volatile compounds emitted from anal sac secretions of small Indian mongooses
The present study analyzed 23 samples of anal sac secretions obtained from 12 male and 11 female small Indian mongooses (Supplemental Table 1)
Volatile compounds emitted from anal sac secretions of small Indian mongooses The first experiment looked for candidates of male and/or female mongoose-specific compounds from the headspace of five male (M1–M5) and five female (F1–F5) anal sac secretion samples
Summary
Major strategies for their eradication have been the use of baited traps, which suffer from decreasing efficiency with declining populations and the bycatch of native animals. To address these concerns, mongoose-specific lures are required. The small Indian mongoose is a diurnal, solitary, and non-territorial carnivore [3] They have a pair of anal pockets that open to each side of the anus and scent mark by depositing anal sac secretions on stones and trees within their home range [4,5]. Several fatty acids, such as acetic acid and propanoic acid, were major constituents in organic solvent extracts of anal sac secretions from small Indian mongooses [4,6]
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