FEMORAL GLAND SECRETION OF GEKKONIDS HEMIDACTYLUS AQUILONIUS AND HEMIDACTYLUS FLAVIVIRIDIS FROM ASSAM, INDIA

Abstract

Lizards have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, but climate change poses a threat to their existence on earth as they are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. They feed on nocturnal insects and occasionally are cannibalistic, eat rice grain, appreciate sugar, and at times seeds of wild plants and rarely hibiscus flowers. The present study reports the femoral gland secretion of two species of Gekkonids Hemidactylus aquilonius and Hemidactylus flaviviridis from Assam using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. In Hemidactylus aquilonius esters (35%) and alkanes (25%) were predominant whereas alkanes (53%), esters (21%) and halides (11%) were the major constituents of femoral gland secretion of Hemidactylus flaviviridis. In conclusion, this is the first report on the femoral gland secretion from the genus Hemidactylus in Assam.