Ontogeny of the brain in oval squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) during the post-hatching phase

Abstract

Among invertebrates, cephalopods have one of the most well-organized nervous systems. However, with respect to the ontogeny of the nervous system, the post-embryonic development of the cephalopod brain has only been documented for a few species. Here, we investigated the development of the brain of captive oval squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana during the post-hatching phase. The central part of the brain of the oval squid is divided into four main regions, namely, the supraoesophageal, anterior suboesophageal, middle suboesophageal, and posterior suboesophageal masses, each consisting of several lobes. At various ages in juvenile squid, the total volume of the central part of the brain (except the optic lobe) is significantly correlated with its body size, indicated by mantle length and wet body weight. The vertical lobe, superior frontal lobe, and anterior subesophageal mass drastically increase in relative volume as the squid grows. In contrast, the middle suboesophageal mass and posterior suboesophageal mass do not increase in volume with increasing squid age and body size. The effects of these results have been discussed in relation to the onset of squid behaviours during post-hatching.