Brown bears possess anal sacs and secretions may code for sex

摘要: Olfactory communication occurs in carnivores and many scent-mark with anal gland secretions (AGS), which contain a variety of information including sex-related cues. Currently, there is disagreement about whether bear species, other than the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca, possess glands or sacs. We documented sacs brown bears Ursus arctos analyzed AGS from 17 free-ranging, sexually mature individuals using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. hypothesized that codes for sex, as it does pandas, predicted shows sex differences chromatogram (GC) profiles, number compounds, digital analog coding chemical color. found 90 different compounds. Our results support predictions male female differs GC, possibly However, we no significant difference between sexes detected compounds coding. confirm sacs, likely relay suggest critical to bears' social system encoded AGS.