Abundance and distribution of the Panama brief squid, Lolliguncula panamensis (Teuthida: Loliginidae), in the Gulf of California

This study examines the abundance and distribution of Panama brief squid (Lolliguncula panamensis) caught during 15 fishery surveys in the Gulf of California in 2003-2006 and 2008. A total of 2460 individuals were captured in 66 positive squid trawls. Based on the seasonal sea surface temperature pattern, captured individuals were grouped into two periods: cold (<22°C: December, January, February, March, and April 2003-2006 and 2008) and warm (≥22° C: May, June, July, August, September, October, and November 2003-2006 and 2008). During the cold period, 1579 organisms were sampled, and during the warm period, 881. Abundance by sex showed that females were more abundant during both periods (62% cold, 57% warm) than males (17% cold, 12% warm). During both periods, females (99.6% cold, 91.0% warm) as well as males (99.3% cold, 95.3% warm) presented reproductive activity (maturing and mature stages), and they were captured at depths between 7 and 40 m. The highest abundances occurred in diurnal trawls at an average depth of 40 m during the cold period and 24 m during the warm period.