Comparative study of serum proteins in four dolphin species (cetaces-odontocetes)

• 1.

  The study of blood serum proteins by different electrophoretic techniques provides a way to study speciation characters among dolphins.

• 2.

  2. The electrophoretic analysis has allowed at least twenty-one constituents to be numbered in Delphinus delphis; twelve of these have been antigenically defined with an anti-D. delphis antiserum. The electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic analyses of serum proteins in the species Stenella styx have shown that the two species are almost identical at the serum protein level.

• 3.

  3. Only sixteen constituents are numbered in the serum of Grampus griseus, twelve of whic have been antigenically defined with anti-D. delphis and anti-S. styx antiserums and are common to the three species.

• 4.

  4. Seventeen constituents are numbered in the serum of Globicephala melaena. After the antiserums anti-D. delphis and anti-S. styx have been drained by G. melaena serum, they still posses one antibody which reacts with a β-1-globulin present in D. delphis, S. styx and G. griseus serums. This β-1-globulin appears to be lacking in G. melaena serum.

• 5.

  5. Other differences have been shown between the group formed by D. delphis and S. stys and the two other species, particularly at the transferrin level.

• 6.

  6. The existence of a group system of transferrins has been shown among D. delphis and S. stys.