This small eastern Atlantic species is the type species of the genus Alloteuthis.

Maximum mantle length 12 cm; females grow bigger than males. Length at first maturity is about 9.5 cm in females, and 5.5 cm in males.

 Body grows to 200 mm long with fins less than half the mantle length. Arms and tentacles are long and slender. The lateral mantle edge is oblique, not straight as in Alloteuthis subulata.Also commonly known as the midsize squid.

Recent genetic analyses indicate that A. media and A. subulata may represent extremes of a morphological gradient in a single species.

Found on sandy and muddy grounds. Depth range from the surface to 350 m, usually between 20 and 200 m. Like other neritic squids, it performs seasonal migrations between offshore and inshore areas. In the Mediterranean, spawning extends throughout the year, but two groups of spawners can usually be distinguished by size and time of peak spawning, even though mixing occurs. Large individuals are encountered in February at depths between 150 and 200 m; from March to April, they start migrating into shallower waters, where spawning takes place on sandy grounds and to a minor extent, in Posidonia grass beds. The second group, composed of smaller individuals, migrates onshore in June and July and spawn later in the year. By late fall, depending on environmental temperatures, they start returning to deeper waters.

Large males may carry up to 170 spermatophores, large females 8 to 30 eggs. The eggs are shed in several batches and are encapsuled in rather short gelatinous capsules (each containing up to 1400 eggs) that are attached to hard objects on the substrate (shells, corals, stones) in batches of up to 12 capsules.

This squid feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes.
Longevity is about 1 year in males, 1 1/2 years in females.

1. Mantle
   1. Mantle long, relatively narrow, its posterior end drawn out into a narrow, pointed tail, up to 6 cm long in adults.
2. Fins
   1. Fins heart-shaped, their lateral angles rounded, posterior borders concave, extending posteriorly along tail.
3. Buccal crown
   1. Buccal suckers absent.
4. Arms:
   1. Left ventral arm hectocotylized: 10 to 12 (usually 11) normal suckers in ventral row followed distally by papillae.
5. Tentacles
   1. Tentacles long, robust; clubs large, expanded.
   2. Large suckers in the 2 median manal series.

British Isles, East North Atlantic, Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Mediterranean Sea, Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone, Nice, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone

Eastern Atlantic: Irish Sea, English Channel (very rare in North Sea) South into Mediterranean Sea.

shelf

Depth range based on 8 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 6 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 9 - 298
  Temperature range (°C): 13.950 - 14.009
  Nitrate (umol/L): 1.439 - 4.002
  Salinity (PPS): 38.232 - 38.642
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.275 - 4.802
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.113 - 0.186
  Silicate (umol/l): 3.495 - 5.784

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 9 - 298

Temperature range (°C): 13.950 - 14.009

Nitrate (umol/L): 1.439 - 4.002

Salinity (PPS): 38.232 - 38.642

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.275 - 4.802

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.113 - 0.186

Silicate (umol/l): 3.495 - 5.784
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

 Found over sandy and muddy grounds

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 27 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 27
Specimens with Barcodes: 34
Species With Barcodes: 1