DOI: 10.5061/dryad.15dv41p6j
title: Cephalopod distribution in the Canary Current: Latitudinal and bathymetric patterns

description: Cephalopod distribution in the Canary Current: Latitudinal and bathymetric
 patterns Aim: The Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) is one of
 the four major marine upwelling systems worldwide. Cephalopods in this
 region exhibit high diversity and abundance, but the distributional
 patterns of most species are largely unknown. The present study updated
 the latitudinal and bathymetric distributions cephalopods species in the
 CCLME. Location: Northwest Atlantic coast of Africa. Taxon: 90 species of
 Cephalopoda. Methods: We use data from specimens collected in ten bottom
 trawl surveys (2004 to 2012) along the coast, developed in the continental
 shelf and slope (20-2000 m). Only data from specimens identified to
 species level were considered. For bathymetric analysis data and
 literature widest depth range for each species were used. If our data fall
 outside of literature range, the depth range of the species was extended.
 A presence/absence matrix of species was determined to study their
 latitudinal distribution. In addition, species were also categorized as
 coastal or oceanic based on their relationship with the continental shelf
 and/or slope, regardless of their benthic or pelagic habits. Results: The
 continental shelf is dominated by species from the Sepiidae, Loliginidae
 and Octopodidae. In contrast, species from the Octopodidae and Cranchiidae
 are predominant in slope waters. The dominant species on both the shelf
 and slope belonged to the families Octopodidae, Ommastrephidae and
 Sepiolidae. The bathymetric distribution of 13 cephalopod species was
 extended. The latitudinal distribution of Eledone cirrhosa, Ommastrephes
 cylindraceus, Ommastrephes caroli, and Onykia robsoni, was extended. Clear
 differences in species composition were found between northern and
 southern of Cape Blanc. Main Conclusions: This work provides a complete
 analysis of the latitudinal and bathymetric distributions of Cephalopoda
 species currently recorded in the CCLME, with special attention given to
 the differences in Cephalopoda composition between northern and southern
 Cape Blanc in Mauritania. No similar studies on cephalopods exist in the
 full area.
description: Data for each species identified were introduced in Excel.
description: # Basic data on Cephalopods specimens by sample
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.15dv41p6j](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.15dv41p6j) ### Files and variables #### File: Supporting\_data\_-\_Cephalopods\_distribution\_paper.xlsx **Description:** Data of collected specimens ##### Variables * Campaña: Survey. * Arte: Fishing gear (BT: Bottom Trawl). * Lance: Fishing cast. * Sector: Sector. * Fecha: Date. * Long L: Degrees of longitude start of fishing. * Latit L: Degrees of latitude start of fishing. * Prof L: Bottom depth, in meters, at the start of fishing. * Prof Media: Average depth, in meters, of the bottom during fishing. * Species: Scientific name of the specimen. * Family: Family of the specimen. * Order: Order of the specimen. * Nº muestra: Number of specimens sampled. * P muestra: Weight, in grams, of the sampled specimens. * n/a : Data not available.