Abstract
In this study we observed the structure of the anal organs and analyzed the volatile fatty acids of anal sac secretions of the Small Asian mongoose in order to capture the mongoose effectively. The ducts of the animals' anal sac were found to open at the cutaneous zone of the anal canal. The paired anal pockets, with a diameter of approximately 5 mm, a mean weight of 10 mg/100 g body weight, lay at each side of the anal canal. Acinar holocrine glands, which are sebaceous glands, were abundant around the anal sac;in contrast, the tubular apocrine glands were rarely observed. The volatile fatty acids(acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids)were found in the contents of the anal pockets by gas-liquid chromatography. Based on the relative concentrations of these, it was clear that different males have different volatile fatty acid profiles, whereas females have higher concentrations of acetic acid and lower concentrations of isobutyric and valeric acid. Although these volatile fatty acids are not species-specific, some unknown peaks were detected on the chromatogram.
