Violet gland

Violet gland

The violet gland or supracaudal gland is an important gland located on the upper surface of the tail of certain mammals, including European badgers and canids such as foxes, wolves and the domestic dog [ [http://www.springerlink.com/content/q630k3wm83417k12/ S. A. Shabadash and T. I. Zelikina, The tail gland of canids, "Biology Bulletin" 31, 367-376] ] . It is used for scent marking and contributes to the strong odor of foxes. Although it secretes a mixture of volatile terpenes similar to those produced by violets (hence the name), the chemicals are produced in much greater quantity than in flowers and the resulting strong smell can be quite unpleasant. Like many other mammalian secretion glands, the violet gland consists of modified sweat glands and sebaceous glands.

In the European badger, the secretions of the violet gland contain a high concentration of lipids, with a composition that varies seasonally. ResearchersWho|date=January 2008 at the University of Oxford have identified 110 compounds produced by the violet gland using gas chromatography. It was found that specific compositions were shared among groups of badgers, while the secretions of individual badgers varied according to age, gender, health, and reproductive status.

In foxes, the violet gland is found on the upper surface of the tail, at roughly one-third of the tail's length from the body, and measures about 25 by 7.5 millimeters in red foxes. Due to its role in steroid hormone metabolism (and possibly production), foxes cannot be "de-scented" by removing this gland. For unknown reasons, the gland's secretions are fluorescent in ultraviolet light; this may result from the presence of carotenoids.

References

External links

* [http://www.furrydolphin.net/fox-data.html About Foxes]
* [http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/european_badger.html Natural History of the European Badger]
* [http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/red_fox.html Natural History of the Red Fox]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Barathary gland — In Nuwaubian mythology, the barathary gland (sometimes seen as “baradjedi”, “barithary” or “barathory”) was initially a gland of the human brain that was later maimed by the Anunna (those who came down in sets of 50) in the creation(s) of mankind …   Wikipedia

  • test — 1. To prove; to try a substance; to determine the chemical nature of a substance by means of reagents. 2. A method of examination, as to determine the presence or absence of a definite disease or of some substance in any of the fluids, tissues,… …   Medical dictionary

  • iodine — /uy euh duyn , din/; in Chem. also /uy euh deen /, n. Chem. a nonmetallic halogen element occurring at ordinary temperatures as a grayish black crystalline solid that sublimes to a dense violet vapor when heated: used in medicine as an antiseptic …   Universalium

  • eye, human — ▪ anatomy Introduction  specialized sense organ capable of receiving visual images, which are then carried to the brain. Anatomy of the visual apparatus Structures auxiliary to the eye The orbit       The eye is protected from mechanical injury… …   Universalium

  • integument — /in teg yeuh meuhnt/, n. 1. a natural covering, as a skin, shell, or rind. 2. any covering, coating, enclosure, etc. [1605 15; < L integumentum a covering. See IN 2, TEGUMENT] Syn. 1. cortex, involucre, involucrum. * * * Covering of the body,… …   Universalium

  • radiation — radiational, adj. /ray dee ay sheuhn/, n. 1. Physics. a. the process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves. b. the complete process in which energy is emitted by one body, transmitted through an intervening medium or space, and… …   Universalium

  • Life Sciences — ▪ 2009 Introduction Zoology       In 2008 several zoological studies provided new insights into how species life history traits (such as the timing of reproduction or the length of life of adult individuals) are derived in part as responses to… …   Universalium

  • Iodine — (IPAEng|ˈaɪədaɪn, ˈaɪədɪn, or IPA|/ˈaɪədiːn/; from el. ιώδης iodes violet ), is a chemical element that has the symbol I and atomic number 53. Naturally occurring iodine is a single isotope with 74 neutrons. Chemically, iodine is the least… …   Wikipedia

  • Chromophobe cell — Code TH H3.08.02.2.00018 The term chromophobe refers to histological structures which do not stain readily, and thus appear more relatively pale under the microscope hence their fear ( phobia ) of color ( chrome ). Cancer Chromophobe also refers… …   Wikipedia

  • stain — 1. To discolor. 2. To color; to dye. 3. A discoloration. 4. A dye used in histologic and bacteriologic technique. 5. A procedure in which a dye or combination of dyes and reagents is used to color the constituents of cells and tissues. For… …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”