Eucleoteuthis luminosa (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) off the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Specimens of the uncommon luminous flying squid Eucleoteuthis luminosa were collected off the west coast of the Baja California peninsula during 2004, 2005, and 2008. The morphology and morphometry of adults, juveniles, and paralarvae of this species, as well as the oceanographic conditions during specimen sampling are described. Adults and 1 juvenile were collected in surface waters both day (20.5°C sea surface temperature (SST); 0.15 mg/m³ and 0.55 mg/m³ chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), respectively) and night (24°C SST, 0.08 mg/m³ Chl-a). Paralarvae were collected between the surface and ∼150 m in depth mainly during the night (21 ± 0.7°C SST, 0.15 ± 0.05 mg/m³ Chl-a). This unusual record confirms the presence of E. luminosa off the west coast of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, and the presence of paralarvae suggests spawning in this area.