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Updated: May 12, 2026

The Identification of Sea Lamprey Pheromones Using Bioassay-Guided Fractionation
Published on: July 17, 2018
Chemical communication: chirality in elephant pheromones
David R Greenwood1, Dan Comeskey, Martin B Hunt
1HortResearch, Mount Albert Research Centre, Private Bag 92-169, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Musth in male elephants is an annual period of heightened sexual activity and aggression that is linked to physical, sexual and social maturation. It is mediated by the release of chemical signals such as the pheromone frontalin, which exists in two chiral forms (molecular mirror images, or enantiomers). Here we show that enantiomers of frontalin are released by Asian elephants in a specific ratio that depends on the animal's age and stage of musth, and that different responses are elicited in male and female conspecifics when the ratio alters. This precise control of communication by molecular chirality offers insight into societal interactions in elephants, and may be useful in implementing new conservation protocols.
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