Sperm storage and mating in the deep-sea squid Taningia danae Joubin, 1931 (Oegopsida:Octopoteuthidae)

Spermatangium implantation is reported in the large oceanic squid Taningia danae, based on ten mated females from the stomachs of sperm whales. Implanted spermatangia were located in the mantle, head and neck (on both sides) or above the nuchal cartilage, under the neck collar and were often associated with incisions. These cuts ranged from 30 to 65 mm in length and were probably made by males, using the beak or arm hooks. This is the first time wounds facilitating spermatangium storage have been observed in the internal muscle layers (rather than external, as observed in some other species of squid). The implications of these observations for the mating behavior of the rarely encountered squid T. danae are discussed

Female reproductive biology, and age of deep-sea squid Histioteuthis miranda from southern Africa

Data on female reproductive strategy and male and female length–weight relationships and age are presented for the mesopelagic squid Histioteuthis miranda. Females exhibit synchronous ovulation, indicating that eggs are spawned at once or over a short period. The maximum potential fecundity seems to range from 89 000 to 148 000 oocytes. Assuming daily deposition of statolith increments, maturing females were 10–15 months old. Male H. miranda mature young (∼6 months) and reach at least 15 months old

The male reproductive strategy of a deep-sea squid:Sperm allocation, continuous production, and long-term storage of spermatophores in Histioteuthis miranda

Squid are semelparous organisms. Much of what we know about squid reproduction relates to females, because few studies have addressed males and, although males are similarly challenged by semelparity, it remains virtually unknown what tactics squid have evolved to allocate sperm to spermatophores. The male reproductive strategy of the deep-sea squid Histioteuthis miranda was examined by describing the male reproductive anatomy, which appears unique among cephalopods, and by quantifying spermatophore production and sperm allocation. The species produces and stores spermatophores over a considerable period of continuous somatic growth. Body size and spermatophore length (SpL) are positively correlated, and the size difference between spermatophores stored by a single individual was up to 270%. Individuals had between 136 and 2276 spermatophores inside their reproductive system, and spermatophores may be stored for as long as 4.5 months. The relationship between SpL and the mass of sperm per spermatophore was polynomial, demonstrating that larger spermatophores did not necessarily contain more sperm. The unique male morphology and the continuous production and long-term storage of spermatophores in H. miranda seem to allow the species to increase the window in which reproduction can take place, a strategy that may be valuable in the deep-sea environment

The deep‑water squid Octopoteuthis sicula Rüppell, 1844 (Cephalopoda: Octopoteuthidae) as the single species of the genus occurring in the Mediterranean Sea

The genus Octopoteuthis includes squids inhabiting meso- and bathypelagic waters worldwide. Of the seven presently named species distributed in the world’s oceans, only Octopoteuthis sicula has been reported for certain in the Mediterranean Sea to date. However, mixed and confusing descriptions of the systematic characters useful for identifying the species occur in the literature. Similarly, molecular analysis results available for the genus are contradictory and inconsistent. The research herein was undertaken firstly to clarify the systematic status of the genus in the Mediterranean Sea and confirm the presence of a single species, namely O. sicula. Additional goals were the assessment of the validity of systematic characters to identify the species and the analysis of beak morphology to provide useful tools in prey–predator relationship studies. Octopoteuthis specimens from various areas of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were compared, and the analysis of traditional morphological characters was combined with molecular genetics and the study of beaks. Molecular genetics and beak morphology results support the existence of a single species in the Mediterranean Sea. Additional evidence would suggest that this species is also distributed in the north-eastern Atlantic. The morphological characters reported in the literature to identify O. sicula did not identify Mediterranean specimens, with the exception of the two tail photophores. All information collected supports the need for a reconsideration of morphological characters used to identify Octopoteuthis species.Versión del editor2,011