The lipid class compositions of the different tissues and stomach contents from the giant squid Moroteuthis robusta of the northwestern Pacific Ocean were investigated.
In this species, the liver contained a remarkably large amount of lipids, which were characterized by a high percentage of triglycerides and diacyl glyceryl ethers. Conversely, the above types of lipids were not detectable in the flesh and gonad lipids, but were high in phospholipids. In addition, lipids from the stomach contents also consisted of large amounts of diacyl glyceryl ethers. Glyceryl ethers derived from diacyl glyceryl ethers of the liver and stomach contents were very similar in composition. The most abundant component was chimyl alcohol followed by selachyl alcohol. Fatty acids of diacyl glyceryl ether and/or triglycerides in the liver and stomach contents lipids were similar in composition, respectively. Also discussed are the fatty acid compositions of the total lipids obtained from the examined body tissues and stomach contents.