| Description of life cycle and mating behavior |
Mature eggs in ovary and oviducts range between 50,000 and 200,000 (Ref. 2464). Number and length of spermatophores increase with size of animal, number varying from 81 to 1,555 and mantle length between 1.4 and 3.8 cm. Fecundity varies in animal size (Ref. 2451). Embryonic development takes about 10 to 14 days at 15°C (Ref. 2466). Juveniles are active swimmers, exhibiting gentle jet propulsion typical of planktonic cephalopod paralarvae, maintaining a head down and oblique position (Ref. 2462). Intermittent spawner lasting from a few days to a few weeks (Ref. 2467). Spawning occurs all year with seasonal peaks varying widely with areas and seasons. Sex ratio is 1:1 (Ref. 2450).
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