Alternative mating pattern in Enoploteuthis chunii is associated with polyandry and male-biased sex ratio

MicroPubl Biol. 2025 Jan 8:2025:10.17912/micropub.biology.001424. doi: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001424. eCollection 2025.

Abstract

Although cephalopods are primarily polyandrous, genetic evidence revealed rare monogamy in Watasenia scintillans . Here, we studied the sister species Enoploteuthis chunii . We found that copulation began in early July, with egg spawning occurring in early August. The sex ratio was female-biased until late August, then shifted to male-biased. After early August, the average number of sperm sacs in females exceeded that of males. As the season progresses, females began storing sperm sacs in a cryptic sperm pocket on the right lateral trunk within the mantle. This behavior is associated with male-biased sex ratio. These results suggest polyandry in E. chunii.

Grants and funding

Supported by Kakenhi (22H05681, 21K06333) and the faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences in Shimane Univ. to Noritaka Hirohashi.