Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Zoology

In the present study we use GC-MS analysis of skin slough to focus on the chemical composition of skin in the xeric-adapted lacertid lizard acanthodactylus boskianus and the mesic-adapted Hemidactylus turcicus and compare this to its femoral and pre-anal secretions for both species. The relative percentages of these compounds in skin slough differ from those known for femoral secretions. While the compounds characterizing skin slough are qualitatively similar to femoral secretions, they could represent an adaptation to hot and dry habitats of A. boskianus. With regard to the characteristic chemical pro{uFB01}les for different sexes, there is not enough evidence to support their possible role as chemosignals, and behavioral experiments. For H. turcicus, in spite of differences between the pre-anal secretions and shed skin regarding the number of compounds detected, there is a characteristic chemical profile for skin derivatives (epidermal glands and shed skin). A possible role of shed skin in behavioral responses cannot be assumed without behavioral bioassay testing

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