Doryteuthis gahi (Orbigny, 1835) is a relatively small squid typically attaining 13–17 cm mantle length that inhabits the shelves around the southern tip of South America from southern Peru in the Pacific to southern Argentina and the Falkland Islands in the Atlantic.
It is most abundant around the Falkland Islands, where it is a subject of important commercial fishery with a total annual catch around 50,000 t. Among Loliginidae, D. gahi is the coldest water species associated with mixed waters of temperate and Sub-Antarctic origin.
The squid spawns at water temperatures between 4 and 11°C, with embryogenesis taking between 1.5 months in spring-summer to 4.5 months in winter. Population structure consists of two cohorts that differ by spawning season (autumn-spawning and spring-spawning squid), extent of offshore migrations and fecundity. Both cohorts have annual life cycle, with high growth rates best described by Shnute growth function. Main prey of D. gahi are planktonic crustaceans; euphausiids and pelagic amphipod Themisto guadichaudii. Large animals also cannibalize on smaller squid. Doryteuthis gahi is an important prey for most nektonic fishes, sea birds and mammals inhabiting Patagonian Shelf.
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Published
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Authors: Arkhipkin, Alexander I., Hatfield, Emma M.C., Rodhouse, Paul G.K.
In: Rosa, Rui, Pierce, Graham, O'Dor, Ron (eds.). Advances in squid biology, ecology and fisheries. Part I - Myopsid squids, New York, Nova Science Publishers, 123-157.