Editing Muskox (section)

=== Components of glandular secretions ===
[[File:Овцебыки - самые грозные млекопитающие Таймыра.jpg|thumb|Muskox on [[Bolshoy Begichev Island]], Russia]]
The preorbital gland secretion of muskoxen has a "light, sweetish, ethereal" odor.<ref name="Flood1989" /> Analysis of preorbital gland secretion extract showed the presence of [[cholesterol]] (which is nonvolatile), [[benzaldehyde]], a series of straight-chain saturated [[gamma-lactone|γ-lactones]] ranging from C<sub>8</sub>H<sub>14</sub>O<sub>2</sub> to C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>22</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (with C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>18</sub>O<sub>2</sub> being most abundant), and probably the monounsaturated γ-lactone C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>20</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="Flood1989" /> The saturated γ-lactone series has an odor similar to that of the secretion.<ref name="Flood1989" />

The odor of dominant rutting males is described as "strong" and "rank".<ref name="Flood1989" /> It derives from the [[preputial gland]] and is [[Self-anointing in animals|distributed over the fur of the abdomen]] via urine. Analysis of extract of washes of the [[Penile sheath|prepuce]] revealed the presence of [[benzoic acid]] and [[P-cresol|''p''-cresol]], along with a series of [[Alkane#Linear alkanes|straight-chain saturated hydrocarbons]] from C<sub>22</sub>H<sub>46</sub> to C<sub>32</sub>H<sub>66</sub> (with C<sub>24</sub>H<sub>50</sub> being most abundant).<ref name="Flood1989" />