Cephalopod remains from the stomachs of Sperm Whales caught in the Tasman Sea

Abstract

Cephalopod remains from the stomachs of 66 sperm whales caught in the Tasman Sea included almost intact cephalopods, detached heads and bodies, "crowns" of arms, isolated buccal masses and isolated upper and lower beaks (mandibles). 3282 of the 3299 lower beaks were identified to genus and, as far as possible, to species with over 30 species from 14 families. The four species Octopoteuthis rugosa, Octopoteuthis sp. A, Taningia danae and Histoteuthis atlantica together comprised over 40% of the lower beaks. Estimates of the weight of flesh represented by beaks of the different taxonomic groups were made from beak size. Three large species Taningia danae, Kondakovia longimana and an Architeuthis species contributed about 80% of the weight of flesh represented by lower beaks. The collection shows that cephalopods contribute an important proportion of the "standing stock" of nekton in the deep ocean even distant from continental slope areas.