Neutral lipid components of eleven species of Caribbean sharks.

Eleven species of sharks collected in the Caribbean Sea contained, on a dry weight basis, 21-95% lipid in their livers and 0.4-11% lipid on their muscle tissues. Based upon theoretical calculations, two species of shark (Centrophorus granulosa and Dalatias licha) contained sufficient lipids to allow neutral buoyancy in seawater. In both of the above species, wax esters comprised the major lipid class. Triacylglycerols and hydrocarbons were present in lower concentrations. Deep water sharks generally possessed larger livers containing higher percentages of total lipids and unsaturated hydrocarbons than more shallow dwelling species.