Gabr et al : Reproductive versus somatic growtli during the life cycle of Sepia pharaonis 



807 



in Table 4. In neither mantle nor head was there sig- 

 nificant variation (P>0.05) in percentage of protein 

 or water content with maturity stage. 



Stomach fullness in relation to maturity stages 



The stomach fullness for each maturity stage for each 

 sex is illustrated in Figure 5. The degree of stomach 

 fullness remained relatively constant through the 

 maturity stages, indicating that Sepia pharaonis 

 continued to feed when mature. 



Length-weight relationship 



The length-weight relationship for Sepia pharaonis 

 is described by the equation: Wt = 0.27L'~^-' , r- = 0.99, 

 n = 966 for females, and Wt = 0.28L2 ^o , ,-2 = o.99, n = 

 723 for males. The elevation and slopes from the re- 

 gression equations for females and males did not dif- 

 fer significantly, thus indicating that females have 

 approximately the same weight as males at the same 

 mantle length, and that both sexes increase simi- 

 larly in weight per unit gain in mantle length. 



