Life history of Gonatus onyx (Cephalopoda : Teuthoidea): deep-sea spawningand post-spawning egg care

A It productive strategy consisting of deepwater spawning and egg-care was inferred for the midwater squid Gonatus onyx Young, 1972. Brooding females and associated eggs and hatchlings, captured between 1250 and 1750 m depth off southern California, are described. Brooding females appear to be senes cent and lack tentacles. Large eggs of this species (3 mm) at cold temperat ures (3 degreesC at capture depth) may require as long as 9 mo to develop. The high lipid content of the digestive gland in adult females of this spec ies may provide fuel to support such an extended "brooding" period.