EXAMINATION OF ISOPRENOID FATTY ACIDS AS DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIFIC MARINE OILS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO WHALE OILS

1. 1. The proportions of three isoprenoid fatty acids were compared in samples of twelve fish oils and fourteen oils from marine mammals. 2. 2. Antarctic and North Atlantic fin whale oils could be distinguished, the former having very low levels of 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acid relative to 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic (phytanic) acid. 3. 3. The gradation in proportions of the three acids from Antarctic whale oil through North Atlantic whale oils to seal oils suggests a correlation with a change in food intake for marine mammals from a primarily zooplankton diet through a partial fish diet to an exclusive fish diet. 4. 4. In both fish and marine mammals a decrease in the ratio of L,D,D to D,D,D diastereomers for 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecanoic (pristanic) and phytanic acids correlated with a high level of 4,8,12,-trimethyltridecanoic acid and suggested a relation to fat catabolism. © 1968.