2,3-DIHYDROXY FATTY ACIDS-CONTAINING WAXES IN STORKS (CICONIIDAE)

Uropygial gland secretions from five out of a total of seven species f orming the genus Ciconia (family Ciconiidae; order Ciconiiformes) were found to consist of mixtures of monoester waxes; diester waxes, tries ter waxes, and triglycerides. Monoester waxes were composed of unbranc hed fatty acids and alcohols, whereas diester waxes derived from both 2- and 3-hydroxy fatty acids esterified with unbranched alcohols and f atty acids. Interestingly, triester waxes were also found deriving fro m either 2-hydroxy alkylmalonic acids or from erythro-2,3-dihydroxy fa tty acids the latter of which have not yet been found in vertebrates s o far. To compare the typical mass spectrometric fragmentation of this class of compounds erythro-2,3-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid has been sy nthesized.