Eye lens structure of the octopus enteroctopus megalocyathus: Evidence of growth

Abstract

The need for age determination for the proper management of octopus fisheries has directed research attention to the few hard structures in the octopod's soft body, beak, statoliths, and the vestigial shell. So far, none of these structures have proved reliable or practical for the purpose. Eye weight, pigment, and nitrogen content have been used successfully in age determination of vertebrates. Given the structural similarity of lenses between octopus and vertebrate, we explore the possibility of using octopus eye lens weight, diameter, and structural marks as age indicators. The lenses of 228 octopi were obtained from the commercial catch from Ancud and Quelln, in Chiloe, Chile. They were measured, weighed, and prepared for histological analysis of the concentric lines structure. The prehatching nucleus was identified, and the total number of lines counted. The lines start to form in the prehatching larvae. Lens diameter and weight showed a much smaller variation than body length or weight, with an apparent correspondence of size or weight classes of body measurements to a lens diameter or weight.