NUTRITIONAL AND MERCURY CONTENT OF MILK OF THE AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN, INIA-GEOFFRENSIS

The fat, protein, copper, iron, zinc, aluminium, magnesium, manganese, calcium, sodium, potassium, vitamin A and mercury contents were deter mined in the milk of a lactating Amazon river dolpin (Inia geoffrensis ), caught in the Amazon River near Manaus, Brazil. The fat content det ermined in this study (6.9%) was lower than that reported previously f or Inia in Venezuela, and for some captive marine dolphins. The protei n concentration (9.6%) was higher than that reported for the Venezuela n Amazon river dolpin, but similar to that of the marine dolphins. Con cerning the minerals, only calcium, manganese, sodium and potassium co uld be compared. The Mg and Ca concentrations were lower, but K was mu ch higher than the values determined for other dolphins, whereas Na wa s within the reported ranges. The mercury concentration found in the d olphin's milk (176 ng/ml) was very close to the minimum level of methy lmercury toxicity for non-pregnant human adults.