Monograph of the Egyptian Squids Order: Teuthoidea ( Cephalopoda: Mollusca) Part II.

Abstract

The cephalopods are known to be commercially and ecologically important around the world. This group constitutes four major groups, Cuttlefishes, Squids, Octopuses, and Nautilii. The first three groups are present in the Egyptian Mediterranean and Red Seas and constitute a main component in the fisheries industry in Egypt. In order to understand the biology and ecology of any species, its identification should be conducted properly to maximize the accuracy of any study. The present monograph is prepared to demonstrate an identification key for the squid species of order Teuthoidea in the Egyptian waters. This is the second publication demonstrating a first-in-kind identification key for the three major cephalopod groups. The first monograph was about the cuttlefishes. Six Egyptian squid species were recorded; Loligo vulgaris, Loligo forbesi, Loligo duvauceli, Alloteuthis media, Illex coindetii, and Sepioteuthis lessoniana. Four of them; Loligo vulgaris, Loligo forbesi, Alloteuthis medi and Illex coindetii were recorded in the Mediterranean waters, while the other 2 species, Loligo duvauceli and Sepioteuthis lessoniana were recorded in Suez Gulf, Red Sea. Two squid species; Loligo forbesi and Sepioteuthis lessoniana were recorded in both the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Specimens of each species were collected for the purpose of identification using external morphological features. Body structures were separated and drawn by using a zoom stereoscopic microscope provided with a Camera Lucida drawing tube. The body structures were also photographed by a Canon Digital Camera.