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Comparison of the fatty acid profiles of liver and fat from five Indian Ocean loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2014

Bruce Clement Davidson*
Affiliation:
Saint James School of Medicine, Playa Juliana #4, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribisch Nederlands
Anet Ayvazyan
Affiliation:
Saint James School of Medicine, Playa Juliana #4, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribisch Nederlands
Sumedha Evani
Affiliation:
Saint James School of Medicine, Playa Juliana #4, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribisch Nederlands
Geremy Cliff
Affiliation:
KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, Private Bag 2, Umhlanga Rocks 4320, and Biomedical Resource Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4056, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: B. Davidson, Saint James School of Medicine, PO Box 318, Albert Lake Drive, The Quarter, Anguilla, British West Indies email: [email protected]

Abstract

Many sea turtle species are threatened or endangered according to the IUCN Red List. Loggerhead turtles are protected in South African waters, but are migratory, thus may not be so throughout their range. Five individual turtles were caught in the beach-protecting nets off the Indian Ocean coast and provided liver and adipose samples for lipid and fatty acid analysis as part of a long term programme assessing the lipid profiles of southern Indian Ocean marine organisms. Comparing adipose with liver there was little variation in the saturated, monounsaturated and n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but increased n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipose compared to liver. These results compared well with data published elsewhere on loggerhead turtles, as well as green turtles, but not other turtle species raised in captivity or other aquatic reptilian species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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