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Statolith microstructure of seven species of Antarctic squid captured in Prydz Bay, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2004

G.D. Jackson
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia, Australia 6009
C.C. Lu
Affiliation:
Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Museum of Victoria, Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000

Abstract

The statolith microstructure was examined from seven species of seven families of Antarctic squid captured in Prydz Bay (n=23). Five of the species (Kondakovia longimana, Psychroteuthis glacialis, Brachioteuthis sp., Mastigoteuthis psychrophila, Galiteuthis glacialis) had very clear statolith growth increments which could be enumerated from the nucleus to the statolith margin. These increments were similar in appearance to daily statolith increments in other temperate and tropical squids. Psychroteuthis glacialis also had two distinct zones which may reflect growth during the pelagic and demersal phases of the life cycle. Total statolith increment counts were not possible on two of the species (Bathyteuthis abyssicola and Alluroteuthis antarcticus). The statolith microstructure of Bathyteuthis abyssicola had some very faint increments near the nucleus but increments were not visible in most of the statolith microstructure, while the statolith microstructure of A. antarcticus was indistinct in the nuclear region (possibly due to the formation of a second primordium during ontogenesis). Future research may reveal that statolith increments are useful tools for Antarctic squid age and growth studies.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1994

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