Identification of arsenobetaine as a major arsenic compound in muscle of two demersal sharks, shortnose dogfish Squalus brevirostris and starspotted shark Mustelus manazo.

The major water-soluble arsenic compound was isolated from the muscle of shortnose dogfish Squalus brevirostris and of starspotted shark Mustelus manazo, both of which are demersal sharks. The isolated compound was identified to be arsenobetaine by its chromatographic and spectrometric analyses.