New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Gut contents of a giant squid Architeuthis dux (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida)
from New Zealand waters
K. S. Bolstad
S. O’Shea
Earth and Oceanic Sciences Research Institute
Auckland University of Technology
Private Bag 92 006
Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract New diet information for the giant squid (Architeuthis
dux) is presented based on the identification of substantial identifiable
prey items recovered from the gut contents of a specimen caught in New Zealand
waters. Prey items are attributed to two species of squid: Nototodarus
sp. and Architeuthis dux. The incidence of Nototodarus in the
stomach contents is not new, but the occurrence of Architeuthis remains
is. Numerous fragments of an Architeuthis tentacular club, consisting
of carpus, manus, and dactylus suckers, and the dactylic pouch, introduce
the possibility of cannibalism-a hitherto unreported behaviour in this genus.
A synopsis of Architeuthis diet is presented and alternatives to cannibalism
(such as autophagy) are evaluated.
Keywords cannibalism; Architeuthis; Nototodarus;
Mollusca; Cephalopoda; diet
Z03020; Online publication date 4 March 2004; Received 2 May 2003; accepted
8 August 2003
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2004, Vol. 31: 15-21
0301-4223/04/3101-0015 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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