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

Cephalopoda | Oegopsida | Octopoteuthidae

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

Pelagic-oceanic; depth range 385 - 395 m (Ref. 97142). Tropical; 55°N - 34°S, 170°W - 142°E (Ref. 275)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Circumglobal, mainly found in tropical and subtropical waters but is also found in boreal and notalian waters (Ref. 7575).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 170 cm ML male/unsexed; (Ref. 97142); max. published weight: 64.4 kg (Ref. 97142)

Oceanic (Refs. 1983, 97142). Mesopelagic (Ref. 77090). Paralarvae and juveniles are epipelagic to upper mesopelagic, then undergo ontogenetic descent into the lower mesopelagic, bathypelagic and bathyal zones. Adults undergo diel vertical migration and ascend into the epipelagic zone at night. Juveniles have been captured at night within 175 m from the surface, while the remains of a large specimen (50 kg) were taken from the stomach of the bottom-living shark, Centroscymnus coelolepis, caught on a bottom-set longline at 1,246 m. A mature female of 1.4 m mantle length had 250,000 ovarian eggs. Observations on bioluminescence from living animals verified a rapid flash response from the arm tip photophores, as a startling or warning function, and a steady glow from the visceral photophores as is common for protective counter illumination. In situ video footage reveals it to be a strong swimmer, both forward and backward, propelled by its huge fins, and changes directions quickly by bending its body. Observed attack on a bait rig showed speeds of 7.2 to 9 km/h and emission of short, bright flashes from its 2 arm-tip photophores before it attacked. It also emits long and short intermittent glows when swimming around the lighted bait rig. Preyed upon by many species of pelagic fishes, including lancetfish (Aleposauris ferox), tunas, swordfish (Xiphias gladius), hammerhead, tiger and blue sharks, as well as odontocete cetaceans: short-finned pilot whale and most especially, sperm whales in all oceans (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: 05 May 2010

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Human uses

Fisheries: of potential interest
| 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): 8.2 - 13.7, mean 10 (based on 18 cells).

Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium.

Taningia danae Joubin, 1931