Observations on the reproductive biology of the octopod Eledone gaucha Haimovici, 1988, in southern Brazil

Abstract

Maturation, fecundity and reproductive cycle of the octopod Eledone gaucha Haimovici, 1988, were studied based on preserved samples collected during groundfish surveys conducted off southern Brazil, The patterns of sexual maturation of males and females and low fecundity were similar to the congeneric and sympatric E. massyae Voss, 1964. It is suggested that E. gaucha does not exhibit a marked seasonal reproductive cycle and more than one breeding group overlap on the continental shelf.