Cyclopropane fatty acids in the desert millipede Orthoporus ornatus (Girard), (Myriapoda: Diplopoda: Spirostreptida)

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1. 1. Marked differences appear to exist in the fatty acid compositions of male and female millipedes of the species Orthoporus ornatus. 2. 2. In the females, three cyclopropane fatty acids account for some 20% of the total fatty acid content. 3. 3. Cyclopropane fatty acids appeared not to interfere with monomethyl branched-chain fatty acids and polyunsaturated ones, whilst particularly the monoenoic fatty acids were substantially reduced in the females. 4. 4. On account of the data on millipede fatty acids obtained until now, it is postulated that the occurrence of cyclopropane fatty acids is restricted to representatives of the order Spirostreptida. 5. 5. Cyclopropane fatty acids do not seem to be a general biochemical relic of rather primitive arthropods.