Composition of wax esters, triglycerides and diacyl glyceryl ethers in the jaw and blubber fats of the Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)

Abstract

AbstractThe lower jaw fat of the Amazon River dolphinInia geoffrensis contains 52.8% wax ester, 44.7% triglyceride and 2.5% diacyl glyceryl ether, while its dorsal blubber fat is >98% triglyceride. Examination of the intact lipids, the derived fatty acids and the derived fatty alcohols by gas chromatography reveals that the blubber triglycerides show characteristics of freshwater fish fats, but the jaw fat lipids have several distinctive features. Jaw fat wax esters, triglycerides and diacyl glyceryl ethers are all rich in C10, C12 and C14 fatty acids and contain no polyunsaturated acids. The fatty alcohols in the wax esters are over 90% saturated. The major carbon numbers in the jaw fat triglycerides (C38–C46) are considerably lower than those of the blubber triglycerides (C48–C54). The possible adaptation of the jaw lipids for use in the underwater echolocation process of this dolphin is discussed.