Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (1): add | show Print this page

one publication added to basket [354430]
Why squid, though not fish, may be better understood by pretending they are
Pauly, D. (1998). Why squid, though not fish, may be better understood by pretending they are. S. Afr. J. Mar. Sci./S.-Afr. Tydskr. Seewet. 20(1): 47-58. https://dx.doi.org/10.2989/025776198784126269
In: South African Journal of Marine Science = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Seewetenskap. Marine & Coastal Management: Cape Town. ISSN 0257-7615, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Author 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Author  Top 

Abstract
    Size is the single most important biological attribute of organisms, and it is the interplay of body mass and some limiting surface which determines the maximum size organisms can reach. In animals, the limiting surface depends, among other things, on whether they are terrestrial or aquatic, so breathing in air or water. In squid, fish and other water breathers, the limiting surface is that controlling respiration, i.e. gill surface area. A theory constructed from this is then presented along with six of its major corollaries, which are shown to be corroborated by available evidence. The key implication of the theory so articulated is that comparative approaches, such as used to infer or check the values of vital statistics in fish, should also work in squid. Also, current, very low estimates of longevity in large squid should be revised upwards.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Author