200
L. vulgaris. Loligo forbesii is one of the largest members of the family Loliginidae.
Male L. forbesii can grow considerably larger and heavier than females and have
faster growth rates. Typically, adult body size reaches 100–650 mm ML (Mantle
length) in males (weight range 155–3700 g) and 175–350 mm ML in females
(weight range 200–1150 g) throughout the species’ range. The veined squid, Loligo
forbesii Steenstrup, 1856, is found in the Northeast Atlantic, from ca. 60° N to ca.
20° N, and throughout the Mediterranean. A neritic and mainly near-bottom species,
it lives in coastal waters and continental shelf seas of the Northeast Atlantic, from
the Faroe Islands and the northern North Sea to the southwest coast of Norway. The
life cycle of L. forbesii is annual, and maximum lifespan is ca. 16 months. It usually
spawns in winter, but summer breeders have also been described in some areas
(Jereb et al. 2015).
Loligo vulgaris (European Squid)
L. vulgaris as a pelagic species inhabits continental shelf up to a depth of 80 m. It
feeds on shrimp, fish, and wolves. At night, he comes to the light of fishermen and
catches organisms gathered there. Although it may be 45–50 cm in length, it is usually between 20 and 30 cm. The head section around the arms is easily distinguishable from the body. The large eyes are covered with a transparent corneal layer. The
body is long and tapered towards the end. The back is slightly rounded compared to
the abdominal side. The fins, two-thirds long in the body, are large and round in the
middle, thin and pointed towards the ends. The suction cups in the eight of the eight
arms, which are shorter than the ten arms arranged around the head, have two rows,
whereas the long arms have four rows of suction cups in the hand-widened end portions (Anonymous 2011). The European squid, Loligo vulgaris Lamarck, 1798, is
found in the Northeast Atlantic from ca. 55°N to ca. 20°S and throughout the
Mediterranean. It is one of the most common squids in the coastal waters of the
Northeast. Loligo vulgaris is an annual species with a maximum lifespan of
ca.15 months. Spawning is usually in winter in the northern and eastern portions of
its geographic range and year-round with seasonal peaks elsewhere, although there
is high spatiotemporal variability in reproductive and growth parameters. Para larvae are planktonic for 2–3 months. Loligo vulgaris is neither pelagic nor fully benthic; it is restricted to the sea bottom during the spawning season, but displays
pelagic behaviour at other times, e.g. when hunting (Jereb et al. 2015) (Fig. 3.6).
Illex coindetii (Broadtail Shortfin Squid)
The broadtail shortfin squid, Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839) is a medium-sized squid,
commonly reaching 200–250 mm mantle length throughout its distributional range.
The maximum mantle lengths recorded for females and males are 379 and 279 mm,
respectively. Females are larger than males, and maximum size varies depending on
the population. Illex coindetii is found on both sides of the Atlantic and throughout
the Mediterranean Sea. In the Northwest Atlantic, it is found from off the northeast
coast of the United States to south. Age at maturation varies between 120 and
271 days in males and between 120 and 285 days in females, depending on the
geographic area and season considered. Illex coindetii females spawn several times
during the spawning period, which may last for several weeks. Spawning is
3 Molluscan Shellfish
L. vulgaris. Loligo forbesii is one of the largest members of the family Loliginidae.
Male L. forbesii can grow considerably larger and heavier than females and have
faster growth rates. Typically, adult body size reaches 100–650 mm ML (Mantle
length) in males (weight range 155–3700 g) and 175–350 mm ML in females
(weight range 200–1150 g) throughout the species’ range. The veined squid, Loligo
forbesii Steenstrup, 1856, is found in the Northeast Atlantic, from ca. 60° N to ca.
20° N, and throughout the Mediterranean. A neritic and mainly near-bottom species,
it lives in coastal waters and continental shelf seas of the Northeast Atlantic, from
the Faroe Islands and the northern North Sea to the southwest coast of Norway. The
life cycle of L. forbesii is annual, and maximum lifespan is ca. 16 months. It usually
spawns in winter, but summer breeders have also been described in some areas
(Jereb et al. 2015).
Loligo vulgaris (European Squid)
L. vulgaris as a pelagic species inhabits continental shelf up to a depth of 80 m. It
feeds on shrimp, fish, and wolves. At night, he comes to the light of fishermen and
catches organisms gathered there. Although it may be 45–50 cm in length, it is usually between 20 and 30 cm. The head section around the arms is easily distinguishable from the body. The large eyes are covered with a transparent corneal layer. The
body is long and tapered towards the end. The back is slightly rounded compared to
the abdominal side. The fins, two-thirds long in the body, are large and round in the
middle, thin and pointed towards the ends. The suction cups in the eight of the eight
arms, which are shorter than the ten arms arranged around the head, have two rows,
whereas the long arms have four rows of suction cups in the hand-widened end portions (Anonymous 2011). The European squid, Loligo vulgaris Lamarck, 1798, is
found in the Northeast Atlantic from ca. 55°N to ca. 20°S and throughout the
Mediterranean. It is one of the most common squids in the coastal waters of the
Northeast. Loligo vulgaris is an annual species with a maximum lifespan of
ca.15 months. Spawning is usually in winter in the northern and eastern portions of
its geographic range and year-round with seasonal peaks elsewhere, although there
is high spatiotemporal variability in reproductive and growth parameters. Para larvae are planktonic for 2–3 months. Loligo vulgaris is neither pelagic nor fully benthic; it is restricted to the sea bottom during the spawning season, but displays
pelagic behaviour at other times, e.g. when hunting (Jereb et al. 2015) (Fig. 3.6).
Illex coindetii (Broadtail Shortfin Squid)
The broadtail shortfin squid, Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839) is a medium-sized squid,
commonly reaching 200–250 mm mantle length throughout its distributional range.
The maximum mantle lengths recorded for females and males are 379 and 279 mm,
respectively. Females are larger than males, and maximum size varies depending on
the population. Illex coindetii is found on both sides of the Atlantic and throughout
the Mediterranean Sea. In the Northwest Atlantic, it is found from off the northeast
coast of the United States to south. Age at maturation varies between 120 and
271 days in males and between 120 and 285 days in females, depending on the
geographic area and season considered. Illex coindetii females spawn several times
during the spawning period, which may last for several weeks. Spawning is
3 Molluscan Shellfish