The following carotenoids were identified in the red-colored integuments of the mandible of the halfbeak
Hemiramphus sajori: astaxanthin (28.5%), β -doradexanthin (25.0%), tunaxanthin (mixture of tunaxanthin A, B, C, ) (8.0%), zeaxanthin (32.0%), diatoxanthin (2.4%), and pectenoxanthin ( = cynthiaxanthin = alloxanthin) (1.1%).
On the other hand, from the integuments of the other organs, tunaxanthin (mixture of tunaxanthin A, B, C) (6.6%), lutein (2.1%), 3'-epilutein (2.1%), and small amounts of the ketocarotenoids (astaxanthin and β-doradexanthin) were identified.
(1) Tunaxanthin (42.1%) and zeaxanthin (46.6%) were principal carotenoids in the integuments except the mandible, while in the integuments of the mandible where the color is red, zeaxanthin (32.0) and such ketocarotenoids as astaxanthin (28.5%) and β-doradexanthin (25.0%) were dominant.
(2) The concentration of carotenoids in the red-colored integuments of the mandible was thirteen times as high as in the integuments of the other organs.
The disparities in the data between the mandible and the integuments of the other parts of the body indicate that the red-color appearance of the mandible of the halfbeak is due to its higher carotenoids concentration, particularly in the ketocarotenoids.
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