THE ABDOMINAL GLAND OF THE CRESTED NEWT: A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF COURTSHIP PHEROMONES. PRELIMINARY ETHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL DATA

SUMMARY The abdominal gland as a possible source of sexual pheromones in the male crested newt (Triturus cristatus carnifex Laur.; Amphibia Caudata) has been investigated biochemically and ethologically. Preliminary data on testosterone metabolization show that liposoluble 5α-reduced androgens increase in the non-reproductive period compared with those detected in winter (reproductive phase). It is suggested that this reproduction of free liposoluble metabolites in the sexual period accompanies an increase of the conjugated ones; the latter could act as sexual pheromones in the aquatic medium. On the other hand, receptivity of nostril plugged females and females courted by glandectomized males decrease markedly compared with control animals.