Lipochromes in the Ova of Pila

Abstract

Many species of the South American gastropod Pila lay highly coloured egg masses, usually red, but in some cases green. In the case of Pila glauca Linn., an Argentine form, the pigment is readily extracted by crushing either the eggs or the bright red ‘uterine’ gland with water. These extracts are stable to weak acids and alkalis, unstable to strong acids, and decolorized by heating, with partial reversal on cooling. The pigment is wholly precipitated by saturated ammonium sulphate.