Cephalopod
Lesser flying squid
Todaropsis eblanae
(GSA7) Gulf of Lion, (GSA8) Corsica
Zones de pêche
Wild
Origine
13 cm
Taille minimale
Description
This is a relatively small to medium-sized squid. Its body (mantle) is cylindrical and robust. The mantle length generally ranges from 13 to 22 cm. Females are larger than males, growing up to 27 cm, while males reach a maximum of around 16 cm. Its head is broad and massive. Its terminal fins are broad, rhomboidal (diamond-shaped), wider than they are long, and rounded at the posterior edges. Its arms are powerful, often measuring more than twice the length of the head. The tentacular tip is slender and bears four longitudinal rows of small suckers. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and other cephalopods.
Habitat
A demersal species (living near the seafloor) found on the continental shelf and the upper part of the continental slope. It is mainly found at depths between 20 and 700 meters, although it is most common between 100 and 400 meters. It is often associated with soft bottoms, primarily muddy or sandy-muddy.
Distribution
Its range is very extensive, spanning several oceans. From northern Scotland (and sometimes Norway) to South Africa, including the entire European and African coasts. It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin, including the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. It is also found in the waters surrounding Australia (the southeastern Indian Ocean and the southwestern Pacific).