Age Estimation in Using Beaks and Statoliths.

Establishing the age of cephalopods is crucial for understanding their life history, which can then be used for assessment and management. This is particularly true for the common cuttlefish (Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most important resources for coastal fisheries. For this reason, an age analysis of was performed for the first time in the Mediterranean, using beaks and statoliths from 158 wild specimens (55-222 mm mantle length; 23-1382 g total weight) at different maturity stages (immature to mature).

First Integrative Morphological and Genetic Characterization of in the Mediterranean Sea.

An integrative approach based on morphological and genetic analyses was undertaken for the first time to confirm the species identification of Mediterranean samples belonging to the genus . Sequences of two mtDNA genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit (COI) and 16S) were generated for the first time from Mediterranean samples. Both the similarity-based identifications and tree-based methods indicated that three females can be identified as in agreement with their morphological classifications.