140
MALOOLM R. CLARKE
geographical sub-species of Nototodarus sloani and form a cline from
New Zealand to Hawaii via Australia and the Philippines.
1. Nototodarus sloani sloani (Gray, 1849)
This has been recorded from various localities all round New
Zealand (Gray, 1849; Hutton, 1882; Suter, 1913; Powell, 1946; Dell,
1952). There are few measurements given in the literature but the
largest recorded male is 27.5 cm and the largest female is 35.6 cm in
mantle length (Dell, 1952).
2. Nototodarus sloani gouldi (McCoy, 1888)
The Australian sub-species has been recorded from West Australia
(Berry, 1918), the Great Australian Bight (Berry, 1918; Cotton, 1960),
around Tasmania (Berry, 1918; Cotton, 1942; Allan, 1945) and off
Victoria and New South Wales (McCoy, 1888; Brazier, 189213; Cotton,
1942; Anon, 1964a). The adults are plentiful in all these regions
(Allan, 1945). They have been taken by dipnets (Cotton, 1942) at
the surface and between 100-1 130 m with open nets (Berry, 1918).
A number of rhynchoteuthis larvae have been taken over the
continental slope and in shallow water off eastern Australia, and Allan
(1945) considered they must belong to this species, The largest had a
total length of 8.0 mm. They were taken in 7 months throughout
the year so there is no evidence of a limited spawning season. The
males have both ventral arms hectocotylized and these are sufficiently
developed to form a clasping organ (Berry, 1918) but there is no
evidence for any function other than the transmission of spermatophores. The largest specimen recorded was stranded and in poor
condition but was estimated at over 4 ft in total length (Cotton, 1960).
The species has been taken from the stomach of a Bluefin tuna
(Allan, 1945), Thunnus maccoyii and Thunnus gerrno (Cotton, 1942).
An industry has developed in Victoria where, together with two
other cephalopods, a total annual catch amounts to 300 000 lb. (Anon,
1964a).
3. Nototodarus sloani philippinensis Voss, 1962a
This sub-species has been recorded from East Luzon and Jolo
Island in the Philippines (Voss, 1962a). The two known specimens
were taken at 565 m and 294 m, were both female and had mantle
lengths of 18.0 cm and 10.1 cm respectively. The water temperature
was 45.3'F, (7.2"C) (?bottom temperature) and the bottom was green
mud.
MALOOLM R. CLARKE
geographical sub-species of Nototodarus sloani and form a cline from
New Zealand to Hawaii via Australia and the Philippines.
1. Nototodarus sloani sloani (Gray, 1849)
This has been recorded from various localities all round New
Zealand (Gray, 1849; Hutton, 1882; Suter, 1913; Powell, 1946; Dell,
1952). There are few measurements given in the literature but the
largest recorded male is 27.5 cm and the largest female is 35.6 cm in
mantle length (Dell, 1952).
2. Nototodarus sloani gouldi (McCoy, 1888)
The Australian sub-species has been recorded from West Australia
(Berry, 1918), the Great Australian Bight (Berry, 1918; Cotton, 1960),
around Tasmania (Berry, 1918; Cotton, 1942; Allan, 1945) and off
Victoria and New South Wales (McCoy, 1888; Brazier, 189213; Cotton,
1942; Anon, 1964a). The adults are plentiful in all these regions
(Allan, 1945). They have been taken by dipnets (Cotton, 1942) at
the surface and between 100-1 130 m with open nets (Berry, 1918).
A number of rhynchoteuthis larvae have been taken over the
continental slope and in shallow water off eastern Australia, and Allan
(1945) considered they must belong to this species, The largest had a
total length of 8.0 mm. They were taken in 7 months throughout
the year so there is no evidence of a limited spawning season. The
males have both ventral arms hectocotylized and these are sufficiently
developed to form a clasping organ (Berry, 1918) but there is no
evidence for any function other than the transmission of spermatophores. The largest specimen recorded was stranded and in poor
condition but was estimated at over 4 ft in total length (Cotton, 1960).
The species has been taken from the stomach of a Bluefin tuna
(Allan, 1945), Thunnus maccoyii and Thunnus gerrno (Cotton, 1942).
An industry has developed in Victoria where, together with two
other cephalopods, a total annual catch amounts to 300 000 lb. (Anon,
1964a).
3. Nototodarus sloani philippinensis Voss, 1962a
This sub-species has been recorded from East Luzon and Jolo
Island in the Philippines (Voss, 1962a). The two known specimens
were taken at 565 m and 294 m, were both female and had mantle
lengths of 18.0 cm and 10.1 cm respectively. The water temperature
was 45.3'F, (7.2"C) (?bottom temperature) and the bottom was green
mud.