Juvenile cephalopods collected in the midwater macroplankton over a trench in the Aegean Sea (Northeastern Mediterranean)

Abstract

A total of 45 cephalopods, comprising 8 identified species and 1 unidentified early juvenile, were collected during a single cruise in the mesobathyal basins of the North Aegean Sea. Horizontal hauls were carried out at depths of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 m. Cephalopods were most frequent at 250 m. The following cephalopod taxa were identified: Heteroteuthis dispar, Histioteuthis reversa, Histioteuthis bonnellii, Pyroteuthis margaritifera, Chiroteuthis veranyi, Ancistrocheirus lesueuri. Octopus salutii, Octopus vulgaris, and one unidentified early juvenile onychoteuthid. Heteroteuthis dispar was the most common species. Chiroteuthis veranyi and Ancistrocheirus lesueuri are new records for the Aegean Sea and the latter also for the Eastern Mediterranean