Research Training Program Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History PROJECT SUMMARY 1998
Jennifer Fairchild University of Washington Seattle, Washington Michael Vecchione Supervising Scientist NMFS Systematics Laboratory, NOAA "Squids Rule!!"

Taxonomy and distribution of paralarval Ommastrephidae
in the northern Gulf of Mexico

ABSTRACT

Squids of the family Ommastrephidae support major squid fisheries around the world and are vital components of their food webs. Although ommastrephid squids are important economically and ecologically, little is known of their paralarval taxonomy, life history, and distribution. The focus of this research was the identification and description of the ommastrephid paralarvae from the northern Gulf of Mexico as well as the analysis of their distribution. Five ommastrephid species are found in the waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico: Illex coindetii, Hyaloteuthis pelagica, Ornithoteuthis antillarum, Ommastrephes bartramii, and Sthenoteuthis pteropus. Squids from plankton samples collected in 1995 and 1996 were examined. The lateral sucker size on the proboscis tip, the relative length of the proboscis, and the chromatophore patterns vary from species to species. These characteristics were utilized to separate the ommastrephids into five groups to match the five known species. Identification to species was accomplished by examining adult specimens and referring to published articles and identification manuals. The seasonal distribution for each species was analyzed to determine spawning seasonality.

Funding for this study was provided by the National Science Foundation' Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program, award #DBI-9531331.

Letter of Gratitude