Investigating the the gladius and cuttlebone of some cephalopods of I.R.Iran for age determination

Articles in Press

Document Type : scientific research article

Authors

1 Fishing and Exploitation Department, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

2 Expert of capture and Fishery Office, Iranian Fisheries Organization, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The hard structures of cephalopods provide good information about the life of these aquatic animals, such as age. Therefore, the study of the hard structures of gladius (pen) and cuttlebone of a number of cephalopods in the southern waters of Iran was put on the agenda. The hard structures of cephalopods are fragile and their transfer to the laboratory requires high precision. After maintaining and preparing of mentioned structures and showing growth increment elements on them, elements were counted. In order to reveal the elements of growth increment, multi-stage processes were implemented for each of the existing structures. Most of each growth increment element in gladius and cuttlebone is equivalent to one or more days of aquatic life, respectively. In this study the largest specimens of Acanthosepion pharaonis (30.8 cm), Acanthosepion stelliferum (9.6 cm), Sepia saya (7.4 cm), Rhombosepion prashadi (12 cm), Rhombosepion omani (10 cm), Uroteuthis (Photololigo) edulis (15/1), and Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii (11/5) had 255, 135, 92, 142, 168, 100 and 98 elements of growth incerement, respectively. Using gladius (pen) and cuttlebone to achieve the goals of age, growth, and lifespan research is suitable, low-cost, and relatively easy for squids and cuttlefishes. Therefore, it is recommended that researchers take advantage of these practical and useful structures in the field of determining the age and growth of these aquatic animals.

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Journal of Utilization and Cultivation of Aquatics

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 03 June 2025

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