Blair T A, Cree A, Skeaff C M, Grimmond N M
Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Physiol Biochem Zool. 2000 Mar-Apr;73(2):177-91. doi: 10.1086/316731.
Tuatara (Sphenodon, Order Sphenodontia) are rare New Zealand reptiles whose conservation involves captive breeding. Wild tuatara eat seabirds, which contain high levels of the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty acids are absent from the captive diet, and consequently, plasma fatty acid composition of wild and captive tuatara differs. This study investigated the effects of incorporating EPA and DHA into the diet of captive juvenile tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) in an attempt to replicate the plasma fatty acid composition of wild tuatara. Tuatara receiving a fish oil supplement containing EPA and DHA showed overall changes in their plasma fatty acid composition. Phospholipid EPA and DHA increased markedly, reaching 10.0% and 5.9 mol%, respectively, by 18 mo (cf. </=0.9% in controls). A reduced dosage from 18 to 24 mo probably still provided a higher n-3 PUFA content than the diet of wild juveniles. The fish oil supplement had no significant effects over 2 yr on growth rate, food conversion efficiency, or metabolism compared with controls; all juveniles survived and grew. Further study is required to determine whether a fish oil supplement would have long-term benefits for captive tuatara.
喙头蜥（Sphenodon，喙头目）是新西兰稀有的爬行动物，其保护措施包括圈养繁殖。野生喙头蜥以海鸟为食，海鸟体内含有高水平的长链n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFAs）二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）。圈养环境下的食物中不存在这些脂肪酸，因此，野生和圈养喙头蜥的血浆脂肪酸组成有所不同。本研究调查了在圈养幼年斑点楔齿蜥（Sphenodon punctatus）的饮食中添加EPA和DHA的效果，试图复制野生喙头蜥的血浆脂肪酸组成。接受含有EPA和DHA鱼油补充剂的喙头蜥血浆脂肪酸组成出现了总体变化。磷脂中的EPA和DHA显著增加，到18个月时分别达到10.0%和5.9摩尔%（相比之下，对照组中≤0.9%）。从18个月到24个月减少剂量后，可能仍比野生幼年喙头蜥的食物含有更高的n-3多不饱和脂肪酸含量。与对照组相比，鱼油补充剂在2年内对生长速度、食物转化效率或新陈代谢没有显著影响；所有幼年喙头蜥都存活并生长。需要进一步研究来确定鱼油补充剂对圈养喙头蜥是否有长期益处。
