No abstract

During two sampling trips carried out over the continental platform of Gulf of Tehuantepec, a total of 101 Lolliguncula panamensis Berry, 1911 were caught. Thirty mature specimens (19 females and 11 males) were found to have unusually short arms. Dorsal mantle length, arm's length, and body weight were measured from the fresh specimens. Evidence of regeneration was observed at different points along arms; these may have been the result of partial autonomies. In the injured arms, the surface of the arm's tip was wholly covered with skin. Fracture planes were found in our histological sections; the autotomized arms exhibited constricted muscle fibers in the longitudinal sections indicative of wound closing. The arms of the specimens observed were very similar to the regenerating arms of other squids. This study represents the first to report arms regeneration and hectocotylus in this squid wild-caught. These results suggest that Lolliguncula panamensis exhibit partial autotomy, and the ability to regenerate the arms. Additionally, each of the eight arms can do so, presumably during defensive interaction or mating.

Although the squid Lolliguncula diomedeae Hoyle, 1904 is of commercial and ecological importance in the Gulf of Tehuantepec (southeastern Mexico), this is the first study to examine female spawning strategy. Information on reproductive indicators was used to assess the impact of spawning behavior on growth rates and the condition of somatic tissue, since energy for reproduction is derived mainly from somatic tissue and from consumed food. Additionally, oocyte storage patterns were examined to determine the type of spawning that characterizes this species. A total of 1,347 females, ranging between 27.3 to 90.0 mm dorsal mantle length (ML) and 0.1 to 25.6 g of total weight, were examined. Statolith analysis indicates that the life cycle of L. diomedeae is 212 days. Allometric growth was observed during the female life cycle. The size at maturity was at 68.54 mm ML, with synchronous ovulation (by groups) and intermittent spawning. The results show that L. diomedeae is an energetically efficient squid species that feeds during all of its reproductive life stages, thus ensuring the occurrence of partial spawning events, and that feeding ends when senescence begins. However, its life cycle could be affected by the presence of coccidian parasites, mainly during senescence.