A Specialized Midventral Sebaceous Glandular Area in Rattus exulans

Abstract

A midventral cutaneous glandular area is described for the first time in a Hawaiian population of Rattus exulans. Such a structure is not known to occur in other forms of the genus. It is an area of increased sebaceous glandular and epidermal proliferative activity and is largest in adult males, in which it averages 43 mm long by 4.7 mm wide. A significance for this glandular area in olfactory communication seems probable but is at present without observational or experimental evidence.