Records of cephalopod paralarvae (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in the Caribbean and Venezuelan Atlantic Ocean

Study Extent

The samples were obtained from several campaigns, from 2001 to 2009. Different oceanographic vessels were involved.

Sampling

Sampling was carried out using the bongo net. In most of the surveys, oblique trawls were made from 100 m to the surface or from the maximum depth when the station was less than 100 m deep. Only at Isla de Aves were vertical trawls made from the maximum depth. Paralarvae were extracted mainly from the 333 micron net.

Method steps

1. Neritic and oceanic stations
2. Oblique trawling using a bongo net
3. Extraction of cephalopod paralarvae from the total sample

Planktonic paralarvae of four families of cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) and one identified species (Octopus vulgaris)

1. Cephalopoda
   common name: cephalopods rank: class
2. Amphitretidae
   rank: family
3. Loliginidae
   rank: family
4. Octopodidae
   rank: family
5. Octopus vulgaris
   rank: species
6. Ommastrephidae
   rank: family

Marine areas of the Caribbean (Gulf of Venezuela and Isla de Aves) and Venezuelan Atlantic Ocean