Composition of the Cloacal Gland Secretion of Tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus

B Flachsbarth, M Fritzsche, PJ Weldon…

Index: Flachsbarth, Birte; Fritzsche, Matthias; Weldon, Paul J.; Schulz, Stefan Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2009 , vol. 6, # 1 p. 1 - 37

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Citation Number: 8

Abstract

The lipophilic content of the cloacal gland secretion of the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) was investigated. GC/EI-MS Analysis of CH2Cl2 extracts of the secretions revealed triacylglycerols as major glandular constituents. Twelve major medium-chain fatty acids were found to be conjugated to glycerol in different combinations, resulting in complex mixtures. These acids were identified by transesterification and subsequent derivatization ...