BATHYPELAGIC SQUID BATHYTEUTHIS 



71 



and females. Males predominate in the category where 13.8% (7.4% 

 of the total male sample) are less than 20 mm ML and the remainder 

 are grouped in the 22 to 49 mm range with 55.3% (29.6%) concen- 

 trated between 30-40 mm. About 50% (28.7%) of the females in this 

 category range from 39-61 mm and 25% are less than 20 mm. In the 

 0, 1 category males range from 14 to 52 mm in mantle length, and 

 83% (27%) of them are fairly evenly distributed through the 22^5 

 mm range. Females range from 12 to 57 mm in this category with 30% 

 (14.5%) at less than 20 mm and 33%, (16%) between 42 and 49 mm. 

 In the 0, 1, 2 group 80% (13.8%) of the males are between 35-40 mm, 

 the remaining, 1 specimen, is 49 mm. Females range evenly between 

 25 and 58 mm mantle length. The 1, 2 category contains only one male 

 which is 75 mm in mantle length (the largest B. ahyssicola on record). 

 Females in the 1, 2 category range from 19 to 53 mm ; only one speci- 

 men is smaller than 31 mm ; 71% (17% ) are larger than 43 mm. There- 

 fore, in the sample of 123 specimens there is a trend toward increasing 

 numbers of suckers with increasing mantle lengths. 



In conclusion, it is apparent that considerable variation exists in 

 the occurrence and numerical distribution of suckers on the buccal 

 lappets. There are, however, trends in occurrence and distribution that 

 are associated with sex and size (age) of the specimens. 



Table III. — Number of suckers on the buccal lappets of B. abyssicola from 

 Antarctic waters. Sample number 123; 69 females, 54 males 



