''Gonatus antarcticus'' is a squid in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Gonatidae The Gonatidae, also known as armhook squid, are a family of moderately sized squid. The family contains about 19 species in three genera, widely distributed and plentiful in cold boreal waters of the Pacific Ocean. At least one species is known f ...

. The species is known with certainty only from southern

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

waters but it may have a circum- Antarctic distribution.Xavier, J.C. & Rodhouse, P.G. & Trathan, P.N. & Wood, A.G. 1999. A Geographical Information System (GIS) Atlas of cephalopod distribution in the Southern Ocean. ''Antarctic Science'', Published online on May 6, 2004

Distribution

''G. antarcticus'' occurs in waters of the

Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60° S latitude and encircling Antarctica. With a size of , it is regarded as the second-small ...

. Its range may be circumpolar with an Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic distribution.Guerreiro, Miguel & Phillips, Richard A & Cherel, Yves & Ceia, Filipe R & Alvito, Pedro & Rosa, Rui & Xavier, José C. 2015. Habitat and trophic ecology of Southern Ocean cephalopods from stable isotope analyses. ''Marine Ecology Progress Series'', published online on June 18, 2015.

Ecology

This squid is eaten by several predators in the Southern Ocean, like Albatrosses, Sperm whales,

Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...

s and Penguins. Based on stable isotopes analysis, this squid may be a top predator on its natural habitat.Cherel, Y & Ducatez, S & Fontaine, C & Richard, P & Guinet, C. 2008. Stable isotopes reveal the trophic position and mesopelagic fish diet of female southern elephant seals breeding on the Kerguelen Islands.''Marine Ecology Progress Series'', published online on October 28, 2008.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2036144 Squid Molluscs described in 1898