502 IX. CAROTENOIDS AND VITAMINS A 



was the only carotenoid present in the hver. Karrer and co-workers^^^ 

 failed to find vitamin A in the liver of the axlotl salamander {Ambijs- 

 toma spp.). However, Collins and associates'^* reported the presence of 

 carotenoids and also of both vitamin Ai and vitamin A2 in the lipids ob- 

 tained from the crested newt {Triturus (Triton) cristata) and from an 

 aquatic salamander (Triturus carnifex). 



(d) Carotenoids and Vitamins A in Reptiles. According to Lederer,^^" 

 Krukenberg and MacMunn, in their investigations of the distribution of 

 carotenoids,^^- concluded that these compounds were absent from a number 

 of snakes and alligators. Villela and Prado'^' reported that no carotenoids 

 were present in the plasma of the Mexican rattlesnake (Crotalus terrificus) 

 or of the "boipeva" viper (Xenodon merremi). However, they did observe 

 xanthophylls (but no carotenes) in the blood of two Brazilian snakes, the 

 poisonous pit-viper (Bothrops jararaca) , which is brown, with red and black 

 spots, and a colubrine snake (Eudryas hifossatus). Karrer and co-workers'^^ 

 failed to find vitamin A in the liver of the leopard adder (Coluber quadri- 

 lineatus). 



The hydroxy carotenoids were reported by Krukenberg, as cited by 

 Lederer^^" and by Goodwin, ^^^ as important chromogens in a number of 

 lizards, including the European wall lizard (Lacerta muralis), the English 

 sand lizard (L. agilis), and the common chameleon (Chameleon vulgaris). 

 Manunta'"^ reported the presence of xanthophyll esters, of unesterified 

 xanthophylls, and of traces of carotene in the skin of chameleons. Lutein 

 and traces of carotene were found in the eggs. Comparatively large 

 amounts of carotenoids are stored in the liver of the monitor lizard (Varanus 

 comodensis), but only about 10 to 20% consist of carotenes. ^''^ Lacerto- 

 fulvin, (S-carotene, and lutein occur in the skin of the Italian green land 

 lizard (Lacerta sicula).^^^-^^'' Lacertofulvin was recognized as a lipochrome 

 in 1882, and was given its name by Krukenberg.''^ Fox^^^ observed that 

 the spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura acanthura) secretes a taraxanth in-like 

 ester, which appears in the yellow-brown kernels from the femoral pores. 



6" p. Karrer, H. v. Euler, and K. Schopp, Helv. Chim. Acta, 15, 493-495 (1932). 



554 F. D. Collins, R. M. Love, and R. A. Morton, Biochem. J., 53, 629-632 (1953). 



«6 G. G. Villela and J. L. Prado, /. Biol. Chem., 157, 693-697 (1945). 



"6 H. K. Loevenich, G. v. Studnitz, and H. Wigger, Naturwissenschaften, 31, 568-569 

 (1943). 



«' K. Wallenfels and H. J. Bielig, Z. physiol. Chem., 270, 220-222 (1941). 



558 C. F. W. Krukenberg, Die Farb.stoff der Reptilienhaut, I ., Vergleichend-physiologische 

 Studien, ser. 2, Part 2, 50-54 (1882); Die Pigmente der Fischhaut, II, Ibid., Part 3, 

 138-143 (1882); cited by K. Wallenfels and H. J. Bielig, Z. physiol. Chem., 270, 220-222 

 (1941), p. 220. 



