Biliary lipids (bile salts, phospholipids, cholesterol, plant sterols) were determined in 89
vertebrate species (cartilaginous and bony fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals), and
individual phospholipid classes were measured in 35 species. All samples contained
conjugated bile salts (C 27 bile alcohol sulfates and/or N-acyl amidates of C 27 and/or C 24
bile acids). Phospholipids were generally absent in the bile of cartilaginous fish and reptiles
and were present in low amounts relative to bile salts in bony fish and most birds. In …