Cephalopod paralarvae assemblages in Hawaiian Islands waters

The distribution and abundance of cephalopod paralarvae near the Hawaiian I slands are described. Paralarvae were collected during 5 plankton surveys i n 1991 to 1993. The 404 tows at 59 stations collected 10 375 paralarvae fro m 21 families and 57 species. The most numerous families were the Ommastrep hidae (23% of total catch), Pyroteuthididae (17%), Enoploteuthididae (16%), Onychoteuthididae (14%), and Chtenopterygidae (8%). The most numerous spec ies were Ommastrephes bartramii (18%), Pterygioteuthis microlampas (15%), C htenopteryx sicula (8%), and Onychoteuthis compacta (6%). Analysis of paral arval distribution patterns identified 2 paralarval assemblages: 'island as sociated' and 'oceanic'. The 15 'island-associated' species showed increase d paralarval abundance near the islands, suggesting preferential spawning i n this area. Epipelagic nearshore spawners included Onychoteuthis sp. C, St henoteuthis oualaniensis, and Nototodarus hawaiiensis. Mesopelagic nearshor e spawners included 3 reported members of the Hawaiian Mesopelagic Boundary Community (Abralia trigonura, Liocranchia reinhardti, and Chiroteuthis pic teti) and 3 probable new members (Liocranchia valdiviae, Histioteuthis hoyl ei and Enoploteuthis jonesi).