Cephalopods in the diet of elephant seals at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands

• Main Authors: Clarke, Malcom R., Macleod, Neil
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: British Antarctic Survey 1982
• Subjects: Signy Island; South Orkney Islands; Antarc*; antarcticus; Elephant Seals; Mirounga leonina
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/33765/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/33765/9/340.pdf

Cephalopod remains from 11 elephant seals (Mirounga leonina L.) collected at Signy Istand, South Orkney lslands, consist mainly of 68 upper beaks (mandibles) and 50 lower beaks. The lower beaks were sorted and measured. Eight species in six families are present. Gonarus antarcticus contributing 42%, an unidentified teuthoid (20% ), Moroteuthis knipovitchi ( 14%) and an octopod ( 10%) were the most numerous species. Estimates from beak lengths show that the octopus contributed 60% of the weight of cephalopod flesh represented by beaks in this collcction, while Gonatus antarcticus contributed 15% and Moroteuthis knipovitchi 10%. The species most frequently eaten are Gonatus antarcticus (44% of samples containing lower beaks) and the unidentified teuthoid (56% of samples).