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Relationships Between Mating and Sexual Maturation of Loligo Gahi Females in Falkland Waters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

M. Rasero
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Apartado 1552, 36280 Vigo, Spain
J.M. Portela
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Apartado 1552, 36280 Vigo, Spain

Extract

Observations on samples from Spanish trawlers between September and November of 1995 revealed the presence of mated females of Loligo gahi (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) from 164–285 m depth, in the Western area of the Falkland Islands Conservation Zone. 93.8% of the mature females, and 31.0% of the maturing ones, were mated. Deposition of spermatophores always took place in the oral membrane between the connectives of arms IV. The relationships between sexual maturation and copulation have been analysed, and the hypothesis of mating acting as a ‘trigger’ of the final sexual maturation in Loligo gahi females is proposed and discussed.

Type
Short Communications
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1998

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References

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