Ceramide composition and N-glycolylneuraminic acid content of gangliosides from gray and white matters and myelin of cerebrum and cerebellum were analyzed in eight species belonging to the suborder Odontoceti and two species to Mystacoceti. 2. The most characteristic feature was high contents of C20:0 (10-40%) and C24 species (5-40%). 3. Content of hydroxy fatty acid of C24 species was higher in cerebellum (5-20%) than cerebrum (0-3%). 4. Major component of long-chain base was dC18:1 (70-90%). 5. N-glycolylneuraminic acid was found in sperm whale, Dall's porpoise and killer whale (0.1-1.7%).