Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2000
Aberrant statolith microstructure was observed in an immature female of the squid Todarodes sagittatus (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) caught in the Moroccan shelf. The paralarval statolith, (a central part of adult statolith that developed at paralarval stage), showed the first 12 growth increments outside the nucleus was reversed to the posterior side of the adult statolith, and its main axis was turned perpendicularly to the main axis of the adult statolith. However, further statolith growth followed the common pattern, and the statolith acquired its normal shape at the level of 55–60 growth increments. Such aberrance in a direction of the paralarval statolith can be explained by its complete detachment from the macula statica princeps (MSP) during strong impact to the head of the paralarva (e.g. by a predator) and further occasional re-attachment of the statolith to the MSP again.