page_title: Muskox
section_title: Components of glandular secretions
hierarchical_section_title: Muskox / Social behavior and reproduction / Components of glandular secretions
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Овцебык на острове Большой Бегичев в море Лаптевых. Памятник природы Терпей-Тумус, Саха (Якутия), Россия English: Muskox on Bolshoy Begichev Island in Laptev Sea. Natural monument Terpey-Tumus, Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, Russia Español: Buey almizclero (Ovibos moschatus) en la isla Bolshói Béguichev, mar de Láptev, República de Sajá, Rusia. This image is related to the protected area of Russia number 1410050 This template and pages using it are maintained by the Russian WLE team. Please read the guidelines before making any changes that can affect the database! Čeština: Pižmoň severní (Ovibos moschatus) na ostrově Bolšoj Begičev v moři Laptěvů, republika Sacha (Jakutsko), Rusko. Magyar: Keleti pézsmatulok (Ovibos moschatus) a Nagy Begicsev-szigeten (Laptyev-tenger, Jakutföld, Oroszország) 한국어: 볼쇼이베기체프섬의 사향소. 러시아 사하 공화국 랍테프해. Македонски: Мошусно говедо на островот Голем Бегичев во Лаптевското Море, Русија. Nederlands: Muskusos (Ovibos moschatus) Português: Boi-almiscarado (Ovibos moschatus) na ilha Bolshoy Begichev, mar de Laptev, República de Sakha, Rússia Эрзянь: Ревебука Покш Бегичев усия, Лаптевень иневедь, Саха, Россия. Polski: Piżmowół arktyczny na Wyspie Biegiczewa na Morzu Łaptiewów, Jakucja, Rosja
context_page_description: The muskox, also spelled musk ox and musk-ox, is an Arctic hoofed mammal of the family Bovidae, noted for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males during the seasonal rut, from which its name derives. This musky odor is used to attract females during mating season. Its Inuktitut name "umingmak" translates to "the bearded one". Its Woods Cree names "mâthi-môs" and "mâthi-mostos" translate to "ugly moose" and "ugly bison", respectively. Muskoxen primarily live in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, with introduced populations in the American state of Alaska, the Canadian territory of Yukon, the Scandinavian Peninsula, and Siberia.
context_section_description: The preorbital gland secretion of muskoxen has a "light, sweetish, ethereal" odor. Analysis of preorbital gland secretion extract showed the presence of cholesterol (which is nonvolatile), benzaldehyde, a series of straight-chain saturated gamma-lactones ranging from C₈H₁₄O₂ to C₁₂H₂₂O₂ (with C₁₀H₁₈O₂ being most abundant), and probably the monounsaturated gamma lactone C₁₂H₂₀O₂. The saturated gamma-lactone series has an odor similar to that of the secretion.
  The odor of dominant rutting males is "strong" and "rank". It derives from the preputial gland and is distributed over the fur of the abdomen via urine. Analysis of extract of washes of the prepuce revealed the presence of benzoic acid and p-cresol, along with a series of straight-chain saturated hydrocarbons from C₂₂H₄₆ to C₃₂H₆₆ (with C₂₄H₅₀ being most abundant).
caption: Muskox on Bolshoy Begichev Island, Russia
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