Confirmation of winter spawning of Moroteuthis ingens (Cephalopoda: Onychoteuthidae) in the Chatham Rise region of New Zealand

Specimens of the onychoteuthid squid Moroteuthis ingens were collected on the northwest Chatham Rise off the east coast of New Zealand during late June/early July 1997. Trawl depth ranged between 751 and 1,151 m. A total of 89 squid were captured (65 males, 24 females). Except for one immature (stage 2) female, all the individuals collected were either mature (stage 5) or spent (stage 6). There was no significant difference in testis weight between stage-5 and stage-6 males but there was a significant difference in mantle weight and total weight. There was also a significant difference in ovary weight and total weight between stage-5 and stage-6 females but no significant difference in mantle weight. Female fecundity ranged from 84,379 to 286,795 with a mean oocyte size of 2.1 mm. This study confirms that winter is a spawning period for M. ingens and that the Chatham Rise is a spawning region for this species. Accepted: 30 June 2000