Cephalopod Senescence and Parasitology

Abstract

In the majority of the shallow-water cephalopod species, senescence is a short stage of their lifespan, which takes place at the end of sexual maturity. Senescence is not a disease, although senescent cephalopods can be frequently mistaken with diseased animals. Senescence is accompanied by physiological, immunological and behavioural changes, which are briefly exposed in this chapter. A suppressed immune system may increase susceptibility to parasite infection in senescent cephalopods. High prevalence of infection by Aggregata octopiana was observed in Octopus vulgaris and Aggregata sp. in Octopus maya. In both cases, the infection was found in post-spawned females and was infecting different organs. Cestode larvae Prochristianella sp. were found in the buccal mass of post-spawned O. maya females.