Lipid characteristics of five epinephelinae fishes, Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus retouti, Cephalopholis aurantia, Cephalopholis miniatus, and Variola louti, in the Coral Reef.

The lipid and fatty acid compositions of the muscle and liver of five Epinephelinae fishes (Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus retouti, Cephalopholis aurantia, Cephalopholis miniatus, and Variola louti) in the coral reef were investigated. The major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the Epinephelinae fish triacylglycerols was 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid; DHA), which was similar to high levels of DHA in the depot triacylglycerols of highly migratory fishes. In the phospholipids of all specimens, unusually high levels of 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid; ARA), 22:5n-6 (docosapentaenoic acid; n-6 DPA), and 20:5n-3 (icosapentaenoic acid; EPA) were found with markedly high levels of DHA. Noticeable levels of n-6 long-chain PUFA, such as ARA and n-6 DPA, were found in the muscle and liver polar lipids and suggested a typical profile of the fatty acid composition of coral demersal fishes. The five Epinephelinae fishes were healthful marine foods containing markedly high levels of DHA with noticeable levels of various n-3 and n-6 PUFA.