First records of small-sized young giant squid Architeuthis dux from the coasts of Kyushu Island and the south-western Sea of Japan

Abstract

Three individuals of small, young giant squidArchiteuthis duxwere caught in or near Japanese coastal waters during April–June 2013. The first occurrence of a young individual of 140.8 mm dorsal mantle length with a total weight of 44.81 g was recorded on the coast off Uchinoura, Kagoshima, Kyushu Island, southern Japan. The remaining two young individuals, both measuring 332.0 mm in dorsal mantle length with total weights of 390.63 and 356.95 g respectively, were caught on the coast off Hamada, Shimane, south-western Sea of Japan. Most morphological traits of all the specimens were consistent with those ofA. dux, which was supported by further genetic analysis. Here we present some morphological traits of young giant squids with morphometric data and photographs.