Chemical signals species specificity

In conclusion, the reliable, functionally vital and stereotyped nature of the pups response to the chemical signal governing nipple-search behaviour would seem to qualify this as a true mammalian releasing pheromone (Beauchamp, Doty, Moulton and Mugford 1976) and particularly as it appears to be species-specific rabbit pups fail to respond to lactating cats, rats, guinea pigs or even hares with nipple-search behaviour or nipple attachment (Muller 1978 Hudson 1985 own observations). 

The first step in a strategy for developing effective control of a pest by chemical ecology must be to determine if the species uses a chemical signaling system. If intra-specific signaling is shown to occur, the next step is to identify and synthesise the chemical agents utilized, with a view to successful application under field conditions. The most likely source of communication chemicals in amphibians is the secretions of the skin glands. 

Sorensen, P. W., Irvine, I. A. S., Scott, A. P., and Stacey, N. E. (1992). Electrophysiologi-cal measures of olfactory sensitivity suggest that goldfish and other fish use species-specific mixtures of hormones and their metabolites as pheromones. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, vol. 6, ed. R. L. Doty and D. Miiller-Schwarze, pp. 357-354. New York Plenum. 

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