Identification of desmostanol as a novel vertebrate sterol in short-beaked echidna secretions

Mass spectra and chromatographic data are presented to support the identification of cholest-24-en-3b-ol (desmostanol) in odorous secretions in Tasmanian short-beaked echidnas. This sterol has previously been described only in marine invertebrates and phytoplankton, and may have a role in chemical communication in the echidna.