Occurrence of Chiroteuthis mega (Cephalopoda, Chiroteuthidae) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean Identified by Integrative Taxonomy

Abstract

A total of eight specimens of the squid family Chiroteuthidae were captured with a large semi-pelagic trawl net over bottom depths of 252–256 m in the NE Atlantic off NW Spain (Galicia, 42°34′N–8°08′E) in April 2016. Three of these specimens were morphologically identified as Chiroteuthis mega. The identification was genetically confirmed using sequences from 18S rDNA, COI and 16S rDNA genes. This finding represents the first in situ identification of individuals of the species caught in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean, which signifies an extension of its known geographic distribution range. It also expands its known depth range from mesopelagic and bathypelagic depths to epipelagic waters.