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