Age Estimation in Sepia officinalis Using Beaks and Statoliths.

ABSTRACT: Establishing the age of cephalopods is crucial for understanding their life history, which can then be used for assessment and management. This is particularly true for the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most important resources for coastal fisheries. For this reason, an age analysis of S. officinalis was performed for the first time in the Mediterranean, using beaks and statoliths from 158 wild specimens (55-222 mm mantle length; 23-1382 g total weight) at different maturity stages (immature to mature). Growth increments were counted in the lateral wall of the upper beaks and the lateral dome of statoliths. In both cases, a good relationship was found between the counts and the sizes of the animals. The low values of coefficients of variatio

SUBMITTER: Agus B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11311034 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature