Quinones and non-quinones from the defensive secretion of Unciger transsilvanicus (Verhoeff, 1899) (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae), from Serbia

Abstract

A complex mixture of compounds was identified from the secretion of specimens of Unciger transsilvanicus. Phenol and p-cresol were detected for the first time in the family Julidae, and for the second time in the order Julida. Thirteen quinones were identified, with a great relative abundance of toloquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Hydroquinone was detected for the first time in the order Julida. Besides these compounds, isopentyl hexacosatetraenoate and isopentyl esters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with chain lengths from C14 to C20were identified. The most abundant non-quinone compound was isopentyl eicosenoate. The relative abundance of quinone and non-quinone in the defensive fluid of U. transsilvanicus was 77% and 23%, respectively. The phylogenetic importance of the registered compounds is briefly discussed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038 i br. 172053]

Keywords

• Diplopoda
• Julidae
• Unciger transsilvanicus
• GC-MS
• defense secretion
• quinones
• p-cresol
• phenol
• isopentylesters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids from C14 to C20
• isopentyl hexacosatetraenoate