BATHYPELAGIC SQUID BATHYTEUTHIS 



175 



Since no real clustering occurs between 2000 and 2500 m, the 12 speci- 

 mens from greater depths can be divided evenly through the zone, 

 giving an additional 2.4 specimens to each 100 m increment. There- 

 fore, the number of specimens in the 2000-2200 m range is increased 

 by 4.8 (or 5) to 15 and in the 1650 to 2200 m overall zone of abundance 

 to 50. The total of both size groups for the 1650-2200 m layer is 234 

 specimens or 41.6% of the total population; 78.7% of this number 

 are greater than 30 mm ML and 21.3% are less than 30 mm ISIL. These 

 represent 33% and 8.9% of the total population respectively. 



Depth of Capture in Relation to Depth of Ocean 



Several of the earlier specimens of B. ohyssicola, including the 

 holotype taken by the Clidllenger, were captured in bottom trawls. 

 This, and the "peculiar structure" of B. ohyssicoJa^ led Hoyle (1885, 

 p. 272; 1886, p. 169) to conclude that this species was a bottom dwell- 

 ing fonn that collects "nutritive matters from an oozy bottom." Sub- 

 sequent captures in vertically hauled plankton nets, however, soon left 

 little doubt that Bathyteuthls is a pelagic squid. 



A scatter diagram (fig. 65) was constructed to determine if any re- 

 lationship exists between the depth of the sea and the depths inhabited 

 by B. abyssicola. The pattern shows in general that w^ith greater ocean 



(Depths X 1000) 



Distance from Botton 



Figure 65. — Relationship between ocean depth and the distance from the bottom of captures 

 of Bathyteuthis abyssicola in the Antarctic Ocean. 



