Cephalopod biodiversity at Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico, determinate from direct sampling and diet analysis on large pelagic-fishes predators

Abstract

Cephalopod fauna from the Gulf of Tehuantepec was collected by direct sampling and from the analysis of top depredators stomach contents, such as sailfish, dolphinfish, sharks, and tunas. Direct sampling was conducted by scuba diving and from shrimp trawls. In total 1,661 cephalopods belonging to 8 families and 15 species were identified from the stomach contents of sailfish, tuna, skipjack, dolphinfish and silky shark, giving a clear image of the cephalopods fauna in the study area. Families more representative were Ommastrephidae (4 species) and Octopodidae (3 species). In the reef corridor Puerto Ángel-Huatulco 4 species of octopus were collected and 3 more species from adjacent shallow coastal lagoons. Four species without previous records were found: Euaxoctopus panamensis, Octopus fitchi, O. chierchiae y O. digueti. Taking into account all information sources for the studied area, the up-to-date list of cephalopods of Gulf of Tehuantepec consists of 24 species. Only Octopus hubbsorum has interest for fisheries whereas Dosidicus gigas, Ommastrephes bartramii, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, O. bimaculatus, Lolliguncula panamensis, and L. diomedeae are considered potential unexploited fishery resources and often caught as bycatch.