Life history traits of the temperate mini-maximalist Idiosepius notoides, (Cephalopoda: Sepioidea)

Abstract

Age, growth and maturation of the temperate ‘mini-maximalist’ Idiosepius notoides from Tasmania is described and compared with those of its tropical congener Idiosepius pygmaeus. Using statolith increment analysis, growth of I. notoides was best described by a power curve with a maximum age of 115 days recorded. Males have a shorter lifespan than females, however growth rates were similar between the sexes. Idiosepius notoides grows to a larger size than its tropical counterpart. Onset of maturity in I. notoides occurred at an age of approximately 68 days for males and 88 days for females compared to 45–60 days for I. pygmaeus. Size at onset of sexual maturity was analogous between the two species, with males mature at approximately 6·5 mm mantle length (ML) and females at 14·0 mm ML. Idiosepius notoides, like I. pygmaeus, is a small short-lived sepioid with significant gender dimorphism and the capacity to spawn multiple times throughout its short life. This research supports the concept of similar cephalopod species living longer and growing larger in cooler environments.