This study analyses the geographical pattern, size structure and relative abundance of Aristeus antennatus on the basis of experimental trawl surveys carried out in the spring of 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 along the Mediterranean Spanish coast. The species occurred at a depth range of 414 m to 786 m on the upper and middle slopes. The percentage of occurrence increased with depth, reaching a maximum at 600-800 m where specimens were found in 75% or more of samples. Sizes ranged from 16mm to 66 mm carapace length (CL) for females and from 16 mm to 36 mm CL for males. There was a trend toward larger size at greater depths, although young individuals (smaller than 20 mm CL) were observed at practically all depths. The areas with high relative abundance were the northeastern Alboran Sea, the Alicante zone together with Valencia and the Eivissa Channel, and the northern Catalan areaPublicado
