Estudo macroscópico da glândula de cheiro do Quati (Nasua nasua)

Abstract

The coati, is an animal with wide distribution in South America, occurring from Colombia, Venezuela to the north of Uruguay and Argentina. The general characteristics of the mamalia class are the body covered with hair (few in some) changed periodically and skin with many glands (sebaceous, sweat, odoriferous and mammary). The coati has a preputial gland, whose main function is to demarcate territory. Other animals also have demarcating glands, however, in different anatomical regions. Coatis are very territorial, and the males demarcate their territory through fights that cause serious injuries due to their cutting teeth, and secretions, among them, secretions from the preputial gland. Therefore, this work aims to study this gland, characterizing it morphologically and relating it to the reproductive behavior of males of this species. For the present study, six adult male coatis were used, provided by the scientific breeder CECRIMPAS (UNIFEOB). The preputial glands were photographed and measured, for their macroscopic characterization. As a result under macroscopic observation, the preputial glands were arranged circularly to the foreskin, forming a large increase in the region. Numerous glandular secretory ostia could be seen macroscopically when the gland was pressed to collect its secretion. The glandular secretion was stored in the gland in large quantities and had a white and viscous color.