CHEMICAL COMMUNICATION IN TAPHOZOUS MELANOPOGON (BLACK BEARDED TOMB BAT)

Abstract

Chemical communication through scent glands is universal. Taphozous melanopogon possess specific modified skin glands at distinct regions to secrete odoriferous compounds. Social lifestyle studies during the breeding season of these bats reveal the besides acoustic signals, chemical signals are also involved in communication. The secretions of the scent glands of Taphozous melanopogon were identified on the basis of mass spectra obtain by GC-MS. The results confirmed that the secretions differ in chemical composition with respect to sex and the locations of the scent glands.