Mammalian Exocrine Secretions XI. Constituents of the Preorbital Secretion of Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus

The ketones 3-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 5-methyl-3-hexanone, 4-methyl-3-hexanone, and the esters ethyl propanoate, 2-methylpropyl acetate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, and 2-methylpropyl propanoate were identified as the only volatile organic constituents of the preorbital secretion of the klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus. These compounds are considerably more volatile than those found in the preorbital secretions of other antelopes belonging to the tribe Antelopini. More than 50% of the preorbital secretion consists of proteinaceous material, which probably acts as a controlled-release substance in retarding the evaporation of the volatile constituents of the secretion from territorial marks.