Observations on the Structure and Function of Cephalic Skin Glands in Bandicoots (Marsupialia: Peramelidae).

Abstract

Bandicoots (Marsupialia : Peramelidae) of the genera Isoodon, Perameles and Macrotis possess either subauricular or interauricular cephalic skin gland complexes. The pig-footed bandicoot Chaeropus is the only genus apparently lacking cephalic skin glands. Skin gland complexes consist of enlarged sebaceous acini and sudoriferous tubules. though the latter are less apparent in Macrotis than the other genera. The surface of the gland complex has a pockmarked appearance with a small depression surrounding each guard hair shaft. The complex increases in activity very markedly during the breeding season in both sexes. but particularly in males. The most noticeable aspect of the pre-breeding hypertrophy is an expansion of the sebaceous element, which presses the sudoriferous element down into the deeper layers of the dermis. It is suggested that the pungent odour secreted by these complexes plays a calming and reassuring role in the courtship behaviour of these solitary and pugnacious small marsupials.