Distribution and morphological characters of immature Martialia hyadesi (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) in New Zealand waters

• Main Authors: Uozumi, Yuji, Förch, Ellen Celia, Okazaki, Toshio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 1991
• Subjects: Eltanin Fracture Zone; New Zealand; Pacific; Auckland Island; Macquarie Island
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/36431/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/36431/1/2002.pdf

Before 1985, Martialia hyadesi (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in the Pacific Ocean was known only from the Eltanin Fracture Zone and Macquarie Island. A joint Japan‐New Zealand squid survey around New Zealand captured many immature ommastrephid squids. Gel electrophoresis confirmed the presence of immature M. hyadesi. Aspects of the external morphology are described. The distinctive tentacle club was evident in the smallest specimen examined, 19 mm dorsal mantle length (ML). Arm trabeculae were first evident in specimens of 40–50 mm ML. Immature squid were distributed around and southward of the Subtropical Convergence Zone. The presence of very small squid (< 10 mm ML) indicated spawning on or near the Auckland Island Shelf.