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Chemical Communication in Amphibians and Reptiles

  • Chapter
Chemical Signals in Vertebrates

Abstract

Chemical communication is a relatively new field of study in which contemporary interest in the form of reviews, papers, symposia, and books is disproportionately large compared to the actual number of experimental studies on the subject. But such reviews are constructive in that they provide a broad perspective of the problem areas in the field before a more restricted experimental focus begins or resumes. This review on chemical communication in amphibians and reptiles provides an evaluation of the available information, and attempts to formulate trends and ideas for future study. Although experimental indication of chemical communication in amphibians and reptiles is generally lacking, a fair number of morphological and behavioral studies exist, which collectively indicate a distinct potential for a variety of chemical systems in several amphibian and reptilian groups. The scope of this review is restricted to intraspecific interactions in the major living taxa. Omitted from consideration are feding interactions, defense secretions, and alarm substances. However, the scope remains sufficiently broad and insures a more detailed examination of the potential production, reception, and functional significance of sociochemical signals and cues. This review is best considered complementary to excellent reviews on the omitted subjects above and in related subject areas (Bellairs, 1970; Blair, 1968; Burghardt, 1970; Noble, 1931a; Parsons, 1967; Pfeiffer, 1974; Porter, 1972; Quay, 1972).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1

    Dale M. Madison

  2. Biology Department, State University of New York, Binghamton, N.Y., USA, 13901

    Dale M. Madison

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  1. Dale M. Madison
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  1. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Dietland Müller-Schwarze

  2. Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Maxwell M. Mozell

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© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

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Madison, D.M. (1977). Chemical Communication in Amphibians and Reptiles. In: Müller-Schwarze, D., Mozell, M.M. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2364-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2364-8_9

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