Seasonal Variations of Fat and Fatty Acid Composition in Muscle Tissues of Mediterranean Octopuses

 The effects of seasons on lipid and fatty acid profiles of muscle types (mantle and arm) of Mediterranean octopuses (common octopus-Octopus vulgaris and musky octopus-Eledone moschata) were investigated. The results showed that lipid levels ranged from 0.75% to 1.60% in both muscle types of octopuses which were considered as lean. Lipid levels in mantle tissues of both octopus species were higher than lipid levels in their arms. Although these two octopus species contain small amounts of lipid, they are good sources of n-3 PUFAs content (especially EPA and DHA) for all season regardless of muscle types. The highest levels of EPA were obtained from mantle and arms tissues (18.23%) of common octopus in spring. The highest levels of EPA were obtained from mantle (12.90%) and arms (12.67%) of musky octopus in autumn and winter. The levels of EPA in both of muscle tissues of common octopus were found to be higher than levels of EPA in both of muscle tissues of musky octopus. The highest DHA levels were obtained from mantle tissue (28.17%) of common octopus in summer. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of SFA, MUFA and PUFA in terms of species, season, and muscle types.