Sulfur compounds in mustelids

Anderson, K. K., and Bernstein, D. T., 1980, Sulfur compounds in mustelids, in Natural Sulfur Compounds, D. Cavallini, G. E. Gaull, and V. Zappia, eds., Plenum Press, New York. 

Non-target rodent species in the same forests may escape effects of mustelid sulfur compounds. In British Columbia, densities, survival rates, and reproduction of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, were little affected when these compounds were used against long-tail voles [Microtus longicaudus), meadow voles [Microtus pennsylvanicus), and boreal redback voles [Clethrionomys gappen) (Zimmerling and Sullivan, 1994). 

There is strong evidence that sulfur compounds in urine and feces signal predator to prey species (Nolte et al. 1994). The major compounds in mustelid anal gland that repel small rodents are sulfur compounds such as sulfides, thiols, thie-tanes, or dithiolanes. These compounds have been used to deter rodent pests (e.g. Sullivan et al. 1988). 

A mammal may emit many volatile compounds. Humans, for instance, give off hundreds of volatiles, many of them chemically identified (Ellin etal., 1974). The volatiles include many classes of compound such as acids (gerbil), ketones, lactones, sulfides (golden hamster), phenolics (beaver, elephant), acetates (mouse), terpenes (elephant), butyrate esters (tamarins), among others. The human samples mentioned before contained hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters, nitriles, aromatics, heterocyclics, sulfur compounds, ethers, and halogenated hydrocarbons. Sulfur compounds are found in carnivores, such as foxes, coyotes, or mustelids. The major volatile compound in urine of female coyotes, Canis latrans, is methyl 3-methylhut-3-enyl sulfide, which accounts for at least 50% of all urinary volatiles (Schultz etal, 1988). 

We would expect that examination of the anal sacs of other mustelids would reveal similar but not necessarily identical low molecular weight sulfur compounds. The quantity and nature of the scent should correlate with its use by the animal. In addition, a knowledge of how these compounds are produced might provide some insight into the taxonomic relationship among mustelids... 

---