Fatty Acid Compositions in the Muscle of Schizothorax (Racoma) kozlovi from China

The fatty acid compositions in muscle of Schizothorax (Racoma) kozlovi were studied for the first time on the basis of fatty acid determination of 30 individuals of the species collected from the Wujiang River, China, by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. A total of 26 fatty acids were identified in the muscle of S. (R.) kozlovi. Palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), linoleic acid (C18:2) and arachidonic acid (C20:4) were the most abundant fatty acids in the muscle. There were 6 fatty acids the amounts of which in the muscle showed significantly statistical difference between the immature and mature individuals of S. (R.) kozlovi. The amount of DHA in the muscle revealed significantly positive correlation with the age in the 30 individuals. It is possibly the sexual maturity rather than the ages, standard lengths or body weights of the individuals that have important effects on the amounts of fatty acids in the muscle of S. (R.) kozlovi. S. (R.) kozlovi may be a valuable food for humans due to its high amounts of C16:1, C18:1, C18:2 and C20:4 in the muscle.