Constituents of Platypus and Echidna Milk, with Particular Reference to the Fatty Acid Complement of the Triglycerides

Abstract

The mature milk of platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) exhibit 39· 1 gf 1 00 g solids, of which crude lipid accounts for 22·2% crude protein 8·2%, hexose 3·3% and sialic acid 0·43%; iron is in high concentration, 21·1 mgfl. Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) milk is more concentrated, containing 48·9% solids, with lipid. protein, hexose and sialic acid accounting for 31 ·0, 12·4, 1· 6 and O· 70% respectively; it is even richer in iron, 33·3 mgfl