Composition of organic matter in deep-sea holoturians and host bottom sediments from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench

Concentration decreases from the first section of the alimentary canal to the last. Intestinal contents are enriched with bitumens, in which amount of oils and resins increases, while that of asphaltenes slightly decreases from the first section to the last.

It is conjectured from analysis of structure and group composition of oil fraction of bitumens that heteroatomic and specifically oxygen-containing rather than purely hydrocarbon compounds have food value. Organic matter in intestines contains 6 to 9 kcal/g. Judging by changes in chemical composition of contents, only a few of these calories are utilized.