Animal glandular products

thumb|Raw silk of domesticated silk worms, showing its natural shine|360x360px Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven or knitted into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin (75-80%) and a smaller coating of sericin (20-25%). It is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori, which are reared in captivity (sericulture). The shimmery appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fiber, which c

thumb|right|Bee hive wax complex thumb|right|Beeswax cake thumb|Commercial honeycomb foundation, made by pressing beeswax between patterned metal rollers

thumb|upright=1.3|Ambergris in dried form

secretion from the glands in the hypopharynx of nurse bees

thumb|right|Animal rennet to be used in the manufacture of cheddar cheese

thumb|Wool fat tin (adeps lanae), at the Centre touristique de la Laine et de la Mode in Verviers, Belgium

thumb|right|Castoreum Castoreum is a yellowish exudate from the castor sacs of mature beavers used in combination with urine to scent mark their territory.

filament material produced by spiders

bears kept in captivity to harvest their bile

Ambrein is a triterpene alcohol that is the chief constituent of ambergris, a secretion from the digestive system of the sperm whale. It has been suggested as the possible active component producing the supposed aphrodisiac effects of ambergris. Although ambrein itself is odorless, it serves as the biological precursor for aromatic derivatives such as ambroxide and is thought to possess fixative properties for other odorants.

glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the civet cat, for use in perfumery

scent gland contents from Moschus spp.

bile from the gallbladder of a cow

dried gallstones of cattle used in Chinese herbology