In elephants, temporin is the visible liquid secreted by temporal glands. It contains proteins, lipids (notably cholesterol), phenols, cresols and sesquiterpenes (notably farnesol and its derivatives).[1] During musth androgens such as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and androstenedione are increased in blood and urine.[1]: 110 Temporin has a communicative function among elephant individuals in a group.[1]: 101
In male elephants, temporin is secreted more during the period of musth, a period of heightened sexual arousal and dominance behavior. Of note, not all temporal gland excretions in African elephant bulls do necessarily represent the musth phase.[1]: 111 Female elephants also secrete temporin: African females secrete it quite freely, whereas Asian females secrete it in advanced stage of pregnancy or soon after calving.[1]: 154
In popular culture edit
In old Sanskrit texts, temporin has been referred to as rut fluid (dāna, or mada) and is considered to be a symbol of potency and vigour.[2]
However, from the point of view of ancient Indian elephant science (gajaśāstra), temporin is not a direct symptom of rut.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Sukumar, R (2003). The living elephants: evolutionary ecology, behavior, and conservation. Oxford University Press. p. 155. ISBN 9780195107784. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
- ^ Bana, Kadambari. Transl. P. Rajappa, Penguin Books 2010, p. 19
- ^ Nilakantha; Franklin Edgerton (1931). The Elephant-lore of the Hindus: The Elephant-sport (Matanga-lila) of Nilakantha. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0005-2., pp. 29-38.
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