Alkanes are found in animal products, although they are less important than unsaturated hydrocarbons. One example is the shark liver oil, which is approximately 14% pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane, C19H40). They are important as pheromones, chemical messenger materials, on which insects depend for communication. In some species, e.g. the support beetle Xylotrechus colonus, pentacosane (C25H52), 3-methylpentaicosane (C26H54) and 9-methylpentaicosane (C26H54) are transferred by body contact. With others like the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans morsitans, the pheromone contains the four alkanes 2-methylheptadecane (C18H38), 17,21-dimethylheptatriacontane (C39H80), 15,19-dimethylheptatriacontane (C39H80) and 15,19,23-trimethylheptatriacontane (C40H82), and acts by smell over longer distances. Waggle-dancing honey bees produce and release two alkanes, tricosane and pentacosane.
alkanes are found in animal products although they are less important than unsaturated hydrocarbons one example is the shark liver oil which is approximately 14% pristane (261014-tetramethylpentadecane c19h40) they are important as pheromones chemical messenger materials on which insects depend for communication in some species eg the support beetle xylotrechus colonus pentacosane (c25h52) 3-methylpentaicosane (c26h54) and 9-methylpentaicosane (c26h54) are transferred by body contact with others like the tsetse fly glossina morsitans morsitans the pheromone contains the four alkanes 2-methylheptadecane (c18h38) 1721-dimethylheptatriacontane (c39h80) 1519-dimethylheptatriacontane (c39h80) and 151923-trimethylheptatriacontane (c40h82) and acts by smell over longer distances waggle-dancing honey bees produce and release two alkanes tricosane and pentacosane