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8538623 
Journal Article 
Some structural and chemical studies of the microspicules in the fan-coral Eugorgia ampla verrill 
Fox, DL; Smith, VE; Grigg, RW; Macleod, WD 
1969 
Yes 
Comparative biochemistry and physiology
ISSN: 0010-406X 
28 
3 
1103-1114 
English 
1. 1. Alkali-cleaned, orange-yellow, calcareous microspicules of this horny coral, when digested in mildly acidified alcohol, yielded ca. 0·6 per cent by weight of hexane-soluble, long-chained fatty acids. 2. 2. Palmitic acid, the chief component, accompanied stearic, C15 and C17 members and pale yellow and/or fluorescent "chromolipid" acids. 3. 3. Primarily responsible for the bright spicular colour was "eugorgiaenoic acid" a yellow, non-fluorescing, chemically unstable, non-aromatic, polyenechained acid exhibiting spectral and other properties suggestive of a dihydrobixin. 4. 4. Individual microspicules bear organic casings resembling a mucopolysaccharide, and constituting about 1 per cent of the spicular dry weight. © 1969. 
calcareous microspicules; Corals; gorgonians; pigment; polyene acids; saturated fatty acids