Trichosurus vulpecula

O Connor, C.E. and L.R. Matthews. 1995. Cyanide induced aversions in the possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) effect of route of administration, dose, and formulation. Physiol. Behav. 58 265-271. 

Bolser RC, Hay ME (1996) Are tropical plants better defended Palatability and defenses of temperate vs tropical seaweeds. Ecology 77 2269-2286 Boyle RR, McClean S (2004) Constraint of feeding by chronic ingestion of 1,8-cinole in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). J Chem Ecol 30 757-775 Brattsten LB (1992) Metabolic defenses against plant allelochemicals. In Rosenthal GA, Berenbaum MR (eds) Herbivores their interactions with secondary plant metabolites. Academic, New York, pp 175-242... 

Pass GJ, McLean S (2002) Inhibition of the microsomal metabolism of 1,8-cineole in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) by terpenes and other chemicals. Xenobiotica 32 1109-1126... 

Other chemical studies did not find sex or seasonal differences in the composition of mammalian scents. No sex differences in the composition of mixtures of volatile compounds from glands have been found in the brushtailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, for example. The same profiles of low-molecular-weight branched carboxylic acids were found in paracloacal gland secretions of males and females (Woolhouse etal., 1994). Branched carboxylic acids also occurred in the preorbital gland secretion of a female sika deer [Ccrvus nippon) (Wood, 2004). Comparisons between the compositions of secretions in different, related species permit assumptions about functional adaptations and possible evolutionary pathways. Such comparisons are available for five Mustek species (Brinck etal., 1983), and three species of hyenas (Buglass etal., 1990). 

In isolated male mice, own odor regulates the amount of urine deposited in marking. If it is present, they mark less, while clean surfaces and also other males urine trigger more frequent marking (Daumae and Kimura, 1986). In our laboratory experiments, students are impressed by how a mouse stops at a clean tile in the middle of a soiled open field. A scent-the-habitat function for odors from both sexes has been assumed for the gland secretions in the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, since no sex differences in chemical composition were found (Woolhouse etal., 1994). 

The great diversity of terpenes helps to cormteract tolerance by herbivores. In all, terpenes are not very toxic to vertebrates. Many mammals ingest a significant amount of terpenoids with their diet. Monoterpenes from pine oil added to the diet reduces food intake in red deer, Cervuselaphus, calves (Elliot and Loudon, 1987). The brush-tailed possmn, Trichosurus vulpecula, detoxifies (-l-)-a-pinene to alcohol and carboxylic acid derivatives. 

Boyle, R. R. and McLean, S. (2004). Constraint of feeding by chronic ingestion of 1,8-cineole in the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula). Journal of Chemical Ecology 30, 757-775. 

Salamon, M. (1995). Seasonal, sexual and dietary induced variations in the sternal scent secretion in the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula). In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, vol. 7, ed. R. Apfelbach, D. Miiller-Schwarze, K. Reutter, and E. Weiler, pp. 211-222. Oxford Elsevier/Pergamon. 

Mead, R.J., Oliver, A.J., King, D.R. (1979). Metabolism and defluorination of fluoroacetate in the brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 32 15-26. 

OS Homo sapiens (Human), Mus musculus (Mouse), Rattus norveqicus (Rat), OS Bos taurus (Bovine), Trichosurus vulpecula (Brush-tailed possum), and OS Anser anser anser (Western gravlag goose). 

Biggins, J.G. 1979. Olfactory communication in the brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr, 1792 (Mar-supialia Phalangeridae). Ph.D. Monash University, Melbourne. 

Gilmore, D.P. 1969. Seasonal reproductive periodicity in the male Australian Brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula). J. Zool, Lond., 157, 75—98. 

Winter, J.W. 1976. The behaviour and social organization of the Brush-tail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr). Ph.D., University of Queensland, St. Lucia. 

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