Length-weight relationship, reproductive aspects and condition factor of the elegant cuttlefish Sepia elegans Blainville, 1827 off the northern coast of Morocco, Eastern Atlantic Ocean

BAHIJ Et Al., Salma

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2022.281549

Length-weight relationship, reproductive aspects and condition factor of the elegant cuttlefish Sepia elegans Blainville, 1827 off the northern coast of Morocco, Eastern Atlantic Ocean

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Salma BAHIJ et al.

10.21608/ejabf.2022.281549

Abstract

The elegant cuttlefish, Sepia elegans Blainville, 1827, represents an important component in the marine ecosystem off the northern coast of Morocco, the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The aim of this work was to determine the length-weight relationship, reproductive aspects, and condition factor of elegant cuttlefish, Sepia elegans. From February 2018 to January 2020, 4796 cuttlefish specimens were collected from the commercial catch, of which 2820 were females and 1965 males (with 11 undetermined). The evolution of the sex ratio showed a dominance of females over all seasons with an overall value of 0.69. The length-weight relationship (LWR) was calculated; it showed negative allometric growth. Results defined a positive correlation between the width of the cuttlebone and the length (p < /em>>0.05). Monthly monitoring of the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the relative condition factor (Kn), and the stages of sexual maturity in the elegant cuttlefish revealed that it has an extended reproductive period of population with two peaks of spawning. The findings of this study showed well-being and good health condition for both sexes since the mean relative condition factor was 1.023±0.16 and 1.011±0.15 for females and males, respectively. In addition, females' and males' lengths at first maturity (Lm₅₀) were 3.8 and 3.2 cm, respectively.

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