Depth Distribution of the carotenoid pigments and lipids of some oceanic animals. 2. Decapod Crustaceans

Abstract

SummaryAnalysis of the carotenoid pigments of decapod crustaceans has indicated that the visible differences in the appearance of species from different depth horizons are largely due to the disposition of pigments and not to differences in total amount of pigment relative to body size. Species from the upper mesopelagic zone have relatively few large chromatophores, and their chitin is either unpigmented or feebly pigmented. Species from deeper zones have very many small chromatophores and chitin heavily pigmented by unesterified astaxanthin. The major carotenoid pigments of almost all species are astaxanthin and its esters.Lipid analyses have shown that several species of Caridea have very high levels of lipid in the body, and that in many deep-water species wax esters comprise a large proportion of the total lipid. Specific patterns of distribution of the various lipid classes are found in different tissues, with wax esters particularly dominating the hepatopancreas lipids of deep-living species.The patterns of pigment and lipid distribution are discussed in relation to the depth distribution, light environment, and metabolic requirements of the different species.