Taxonomic Diversity Hidden Inside the Mantle of Octopus Vulgaris: Valuable Source of Information

Abstract

The common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, is a very important demersal fishery resource targeted, among other fleets, by freezer bottom-trawlers in the Mauritanian Economic Exclusive Zone (MEEZ). From August 2010 to September 2011, a total of 1696 octopuses caught in the MEEZ where analysed. Many organisms trapped into the octopuses’ mantle were found and identified, which are jointly swept while the trawling catches the targeted species. A latitudinal (by ecoregion) and depth study was performed to determine differences in the taxonomic diversity of these hidden organisms. The findings showed that the diversity patterns were similar to already established in the area based on scientific surveys. Therefore, this ignored bycatch could provide complementary ecological information of the habitat of O. vulgaris.