AGE, GROWTH, AND REPRODUCTION OF THE TROPICAL SQUID NOTOTODARUS-HAWAIIENSIS (CEPHALOPODA, OMMASTREPHIDAE) OFF THE NORTH-WEST SLOPE OF AUSTRALIA

The age, growth, and reproduction of the tropical Indo-Pacific ommastr ephid squid Nototodarus hawaiiensis was studied on the North West Slop e of Australia. The weight, mantle length (ML), gonad weight, and nida mental gland length were measured for 37 males and 52 females captured in January and February 1992 and ranging in size from 42 mm ML to 214 mm ML. Statolith increments were counted, as a proxy for age. The num ber of statolith increments, counted on 42 of the squid, ranged from 4 9 to 195. The relation between increment number (i.e. age) and ML was linear for both sexes. The relation between increment number and ovary weight, and between increment number and testis weight, had greater v ariability than did ML versus ovary weight, and ML versus testis weigh t, indicating a large range in age at maturity in individuals of simil ar size. Some statoliths showed two prominent zones, the origins of wh ich are uncertain. Back-calculated hatch dates indicated that all squi d hatched between July and December 1991 and that the majority hatched between August and October (Austral spring).