Salamanders advertisement

Jaeger, R. G. (1986). Pheromonal markers as territorial advertisement by terrestrial salamanders. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, vol. 4, ed. D. Duvall, D. Miiller-Schwarze, and R. M. Silverstein, pp. 191-203. New York Plenum. 

Jaeger, R. G., Goy, J., Tarver, M., and Marquez, C., 1985, Salamander territoriality Pheromonal markers as advertisement by males,... 

PHEROMONAL MARKERS AS TERRITORIAL ADVERTISEMENT BY TERRESTRIAL SALAMANDERS... 

Nothing is known about the biochemistry of the pheromones used in territorial advertisement. This is unavoidably true partly because the study of territoriality in salamanders is so new, partly because the existence of pheromones has been inferred only from behavioral responses of individuals under experimental conditions, and partly because none of the glands producing the suspected pheromones have been conclusively identified. In short, there is so little background information about territorial pheromonal communication in salamanders that sophisticated studies probably will not be conducted for several years yet. 

The fourth case indicated no position bias in the experiment. These data demonstrate, then, that male salamanders of this species are not only attracted to areas marked with their own pheromones, but are repulsed (and threatened) by areas marked by pheromones of other males. Territorial advertisement is inferred from these data. Parallel tests with females are now being performed. 

In summary, virtually all of the information on territorial pheromones (through behavioral inferences of their existence) comes from single species, Plethodon cinereus. Evidence to date indicates that at least males (and perhaps females) place chemical substances on the substrate, that these substances are contained in fecal pellets and are produced in or near the cloaca (though other glandular sources are not ruled out), that these substances tend to deter intruders from entering a marked (territorial) area, and that the aggressive and submissive interactions of territorial residents and intruders are governed in part by these substances (and in part by visual displays). Thus, pheromones, whatever they are, are used by Plethodon cinereus (and perhaps other species of salamanders) to advertise territorial possession. 

Salamander territoriality Phermonal markers as advertisement by males, Anim. Behav., 34 in press. 

To date we are aware of no studies indicating whether either anuran amphibians or caecilians advertise territories using chemical markers. Therefore, this section concentrates solely on studies of salamanders. We recommend that readers also consult reviews in Madison (1977), Jaeger (1986), and Mathis et al. (1995). 

In general, the same techniques are used to collect stimuli for tests of pheromones used in reproduction as for tests of territorial pheromones. It is possible that in many cases the same pheromones may serve both functions advertisement to potential competitors and to potential mates. Although the collection techniques are similar for both types of pheromones, many studies of sexual advertisement pheromones have focused on aquatic animals (primarily newts) and the techniques described above for terrestrial salamanders have been modified for use in aquatic environments. For example, test animals might be exposed to water from a chamber that had contained another salamander (Dawley 1984b) or from sponges soaked with secretions from other salamanders (Twitty 1955). 

Jaeger, R.G., J.M. Goy, M. Tarver, C.E. Marquez. 1986. Salamander territoriality pheromonal markers as advertisement by males. Anim. Behav. 34 860-864. 

---