The neck and chest glands of the Australian hopping-mice, Notomys

Abstract

The gross and microscopical anatomy of the neck glands of Notomys alexis, N. mitchellii, N. cervinus and N. fuscus is described. In N. alexis, N. mitchellii and N. fuscus the glandular area was composed of a sheet of sebaceous-type glands supported by a small amount of connective tissue. The gross morphology of the glandular area varied between these three species, being simplest in N. mitchellii and most complex in N. fuscus. N. cervinus had no neck gland, but males had a gland made up of a mass of lobules separately embedded in a connective tissue stroma in the sternal region. In all species the glandular area was active in all adult males, but in females only during pregnancy and lactation. It is considered that territorial marking and marking of group members, including newborn young, are among the most likely uses of the glands.