Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Cephalopoda | Oegopsida | Ancistrocheiridae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Pelagic-oceanic; depth range 1 - 700 m (Ref. 110525). Tropical; 54°N - 42°S, 180°W - 180°E (Ref. 275)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Worldwide, from tropical to temperate waters.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 43.5 cm ML male/unsexed; (Ref. 122849); max. published weight: 0.00 g

An oceanic species that is lower epipelagic to mesopelagic and bathyal, and ranges in tropical and temperate waters of the 3 major oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. Undergoes diel vertical migration and consequently is able to regulate its bioluminescent counterillumination. As a nerito-oceanic species, occurs in association with seamounts and submarine ridges. Age and growth studies based on statolith analysis indicate a strong sexual dimorphism: males live about 1 year, females begin to mature at 1 year and spawn at about 1.5 years. Following ontogenetic descent into bathyal waters, at least to 680 m, growth rate decreases to lowest known values for squids. Relative fecundity is 200,000 to 800,000 ova, 2.6 to 1.91 mm diameter, of which 60 to 65% are spawned. Hatching occurs throughout the year; peaks November to March. Sexually mature males captured in southern African waters had nidamental glands in addition to the fully developed male reproductive system. Intersexual males were significantly larger than normal males. Preyed upon by swordfish, Xiphias gladius, lancetfish, tunas, blue shark, oceanic seabirds, Antarctic fulmar and odontocete cetaceans, e.g. sperm whales, pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, long-finned pilot whale (Ref. 97142).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Members of the class Cephalopoda are gonochoric. Male and female adults usually die shortly after spawning and brooding, respectively. Mating behavior: Males perform various displays to attract potential females for copulation. During copulation, male grasp the female and inserts the hectocotylus into the female's mantle cavity where fertilization usually occurs. Life cycle: Embryos hatch into planktonic stage and live for some time before they grow larger and take up a benthic existence as adults.

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney and C.E. Nauen. 1984. (Ref. 275)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 28 April 2010

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

| FishSource |

Tools

E-book | Field guide

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items

Common names
Synonyms
Predators
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Morphology
Larvae
Abundance

References
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 11.8 - 26.5, mean 18.3 (based on 459 cells).

Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium.

Ancistrocheirus lesueurii (Férussac & d'Orbigny, 1835)