African bush elephant - Loxodonta africana
Tanzania
Serengeti National Park.
Elephants possess unique glands, the temporal glands, under the skin between the eye and the ear canal on either side of the head. There is a single duct from each gland onto the surface of the skin.
This gland produces a dark oily fluid, which may be seen exuding from the gland periodically. Both male and female Loxodonta may show fluid draining from the temporal glands associated with excitement or apprehension.
The temporal gland probably plays a role in olfactory communication; elephants rub the gland on trees and branches.
It is possible that the scent of the temporal gland secretions allows recognition of individual elephants, and perhaps assessment of reproductive state
wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/0MProboscidae/Elephantidae/Loxo...
African bush elephant - Loxodonta africana
Tanzania
Serengeti National Park.
Elephants possess unique glands, the temporal glands, under the skin between the eye and the ear canal on either side of the head. There is a single duct from each gland onto the surface of the skin.
This gland produces a dark oily fluid, which may be seen exuding from the gland periodically. Both male and female Loxodonta may show fluid draining from the temporal glands associated with excitement or apprehension.
The temporal gland probably plays a role in olfactory communication; elephants rub the gland on trees and branches.
It is possible that the scent of the temporal gland secretions allows recognition of individual elephants, and perhaps assessment of reproductive state
wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/0MProboscidae/Elephantidae/Loxo...