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Composition of wax esters and triacylglycerols in the melon and blubber fats of a young Sowerby's whaleMesoplodon bidens

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Lipids

Abstract

The blubber fat of a yearling Sowerby's Whale,Mesoplodon bidens, stranded on the Dutch coast, contained 59% triacylglycerols. This is quite unexpected because low levels (0–6%) of triacylglycerols are characteristic ofZiphiidae whales. In addition, the chain lengths of the fatty acids of the melon were longer than those of previously studied related species. As young Sowerby's Whales undergo a change in diet from mainly triacylglycerols in milk to wax ester containing food during their development from infancy to independence, these findings could reflect the age of the animal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unilever Research, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands

    C. M. Lok & B. Folkersma

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  1. C. M. Lok
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  2. B. Folkersma
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Lok, C.M., Folkersma, B. Composition of wax esters and triacylglycerols in the melon and blubber fats of a young Sowerby's whaleMesoplodon bidens . Lipids 14, 872–875 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02534131

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02534131

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