Todaropsis eblanae, also known as the lesser flying squid, is a species of short finned squid in the monotypic genus Todaropsis of the family Ommastrephidae.
| Todaropsis eblanae | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Family: | Ommastrephidae |
| Genus: | Todaropsis |
| Species: | T. eblanae
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| Binomial name | |
| Todaropsis eblanae (Ball, 1841)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
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A relatively small squid between 13–22 centimetres (5.1–8.7 in) in length with a large, broad head.[3] The males grow to a maximum mantle length of 16.0 cm and the females to a maximum mantle length of 27 centimetres (11 in).[4] This species possesses a terminal fin which is broadly rhomboidal, wider than it is long and posteriorly rounded. Its arms are stout, more than twice the length of head, and the tentacle club is slim, with four rows of suckers, not extending away from the tips on to the stalk.[5]
Habitat
editThis species is associated with muddy substrates.[3]
Biology
editA total of 21 specimens were examined from examples caught in Galicia and different prey items which fell into three distinct types were found to be taken as prey by Todaropis eblanae these were bony fish, crustaceans and other cephalopods. The diet was found to be dominated by blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou, which was found to make up 43% of the prey taken.[6] In Irish Waters Mueller's Pearlside (Maurolicus muelleri), a small mesopelagic fish, is a particularly important prey item of Todaropsis eblanae being found in and 34.7% of stomachs examined with prey remains.[7]
in northern waters Todaropsis eblanae generally mate and spawn in the summer and early autumn months, i.e. from June through to November. Hatching occurs in late autumn through to the early spring, i.e. from October up until March, producing juveniles in the first half of the year.[8]
Distribution
editFound in the eastern coastal waters of the North Atlantic and South Atlantic from Shetland to the Cape of Good Hope, and the Indian Ocean from the along the coasts of southern Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarenes north to the Timor Sea, and then along the western and south-eastern coasts of Australia.[5]
Fisheries
editThis squid is one of the most abundant cephalopods in the Celtic Sea, even so it is usually caught as a bycatch by trawlers fishing for other species.[9]
References
edit- ^ Barratt, I. & Allcock, L. (2014). "Todaropsis eblanae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163369A1002646. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T163369A1002646.en. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ a b Philippe Bouchet (2018). Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O (eds.). "Todaropsis eblanae (Ball, 1841)". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ a b Emily Wilson 2006. Todaropsis eblanae. Lesser flying squid. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
- ^ Todaropsis eblanae, lesser flying squid: fisheries
- ^ a b M.J. de Kluijver; S.S. Ingalsuo; R.H. de Bruyne. "Mollusca of the North Sea". Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ Rasero, M.; Gonzalez, A.F.; Castro, B.G. & Guerra, A. (1996). "Predatory relationships of two sympatric squid, Todaropsis eblanae and Illex coindetii (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in Galician waters". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 76 (1): 73–87. doi:10.1017/S0025315400029027. hdl:10261/53055. S2CID 86136056.
- ^ Lordan, C.; Burnell, G. M. & Cross, T. F. (1998). "The diet and ecological importance of Illex coindetii and Todaropsis eblanae (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in Irish waters". South African Journal of Marine Science. 20 (1): 153–163. doi:10.2989/025776198784126214.
- ^ L.C. Hastie; J.B. Joy; G.J. Pierce & C. Yau (May 1994). "Reproductive biology of Todaropsis eblanae (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in Scottish waters". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 74 (2): 367–382. doi:10.1017/S0025315400039394. S2CID 85729816.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan (2011). P. Saundry & C. Cleveland (ed.). "Celtic Sea". Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington, D.C.: National Council for Science and the Environment.