Among snakes

1990/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

I

Chemical communication is highly developed. Through substances called pheromones, they guide sexual relations and others. Vertebrates also contain this type of substance, but it is not really as well known. Recently the pheromones of a reptile, the Canadian snake Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, have been isolated, identified and synthesized.

These snakes accumulate in large groups in late winter. Then, the males laminate to the others and rub the chin to the back of the others. Thus, by means of an organ located in the back of the mouth, they capture the pheromones of other snakes.

The pheromones of rings and females are chemically different. As a result the males are known, they are not courted.