Sex specificity in the anal gland secretion of the Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon

The Egyptian mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon , uses its anal gland secretion to mark objects in its home range, presumably to communicate with members of its own or other groups. Chemical analysis (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) of the secretion showed that it contained a complex mixture of long-chain (C₁₀-C₂₂) carboxylic acids with varying degrees of methyl branching. All the branched acids found in females were 4 methyl substituted. Males possess an additional component that seems to be a sex specific compound 2, 4, 6, 10 tetramethylundecanoic acid, which is a major component of the secretion.