Characterization of deformed hatchlings of Octopus vulgaris obtained under captivity from a small female

Abstract

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), a promising species for aquaculture, spawns easily under captivity from mature females (usually above 1 kg wet weight). Octopus juveniles and adults are collected from nature to obtain eggs and paralarvae for aquaculture development trials. In July 2011, a very small female (150 g wet weight but with an age estimation of 300 days-old) spawned almost 77,000 paralarvae. Malformations of paralarvae were noticed in the first spawning days, namely the absence of arms. Despite not being lethal, these abnormalities might be derived from the physiological condition of the breeding specimen (the female’s lower weight to the estimated amount of living days), which might be eventually related to nutritional unbalances or genetic parameters that were transferred to the eggs.