Meeting Abstract

P3.75  Wednesday, Jan. 6  Male Taricha granulosa have submandibular courtship glands. HIPPE, S*; STAUB, N/L; Gonzaga University staub@gonzaga.edu

The literature reports that the salamandrid species Taricha granulosa has submandibular skin glands used during courtship to deliver pheromones. There is no histological data, however, confirming this hypothesis. We examined the histology of submandibular skin glands from male and female T. granulosa using hematoxylin and eosin and the Quad stain of Floyd. Males, but not females, have PAS-positive granular glands in this region. These glands are morphologically distinct from glands in females and occur with high frequency. Thus, there is sexual dimorphism in submandibular skin glands in this salamandrid. The presence of this collection of glands in males sheds light on the origin and evolution of mental glands in plethodontids.