Milk Carbohydrates of the Echidna and the Platypus

Abstract

The principal neutral carbohydrate of three samples of echidna milk was identified as a trisaccharide, fucosyllactose. That of a sample of platypus milk was a tetrasaccharide, difucosyllactose. Free lactose was found in small amounts only. The milk carbohydrate of monotremes is distinguished from that of both marsupials and placental mammals by its high fucose content.