First assess of the ecological role of the Histioteuthidae (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) at the Central-east Atlantic

Abstract

The role of the Histioteuthidae species at the Central-east Atlantic is described in base to data from fishing surveys, and the analysis of stomach contents of small-middle and large sized predators. From a total of 658 cephalopod beaks found in a single stomach of a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), 535 belonged to four Histioteuthidae species. These results, together with those from research surveys and other stomach contents, indicate that these squids play an important role in the marine ecosystem at the Central-east Atlantic.