Cephalopods from the pacific coast of Mexico: biological aspects of the most abundant species

Abstract

The cephalopod fauna collected in six oceanographic surveys carried out in the northeastern Pacific Ocean off Mexico between March 1990 and June 1992 is analysed. A total of I I cephalopod species were found at depths of between 16 and 828 m. All the cephalopods were preserved on board and identified in the laboratory. Data on size frequency distribution, and length-weight relationship for the most abundant species (Dosidicus gigas, Lolliguncula diomedeae and L. panamensis) are presented. The maturity status of D. gigas was also determined in both surveys. Stomach contents revealed that D. gigas fed mainly on crustaceans and D. gigas itself. The relationship between mantle length and two measurements of the fins of L. diomedeae and L. panamensis and the bathymetric distribution of both species show clear species-specific differences.