Some biological aspects of cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) off the coastal area of Karataş (northeastern Mediterranean)

In this study, Cephalopoda (Malacostraca) species, distrubuted throughout off the Karataş coastal area, and their bio-ecological charasteristics were defined. Bettween March 2004 and May 2005, samples were collectedthroughout the commercial fıshing grounds with Mediterranean type deep travvl monthly and a count of 1101 cephalopods of 8 species were examined. At the totaly 8 species belonging to the member of Sepiidae family (Sepia offıcinalis, Sepia elegans), Loliginidae family (Loligo vulgaris, I. coindetii), Octopodidae family (Eledone moschata, Eledone cirrhosa, Octopus vulgaris, Octopus macropus) were ound at the common fıshing grounds. Mean value of Mantle lengths of the captured species were found to be 10,74±0,10 for S. offıcinalis, 4,20 for S. elegans, 15,3±0,42 for L. vulgaris, 10,93±0,28 for /. coindetii, 8,08±0.13 for E.moschata, 13,50 for E. cirrhosa, 10.25±0,46 for O. vulgaris, 12,71± 0,64 cm for O. macropus. Throughout the research period, percentage value of the total catch were calculated to be 58.6% for S. offıcinalis, 0.1% for S. elegans, 9.8% for L. vulgaris, 9% for /. coindetii, 13.6% for E. moschata, 0.1% for E. cirrhaosa, 6.3% for O. vulgaris and 2.5% for O. macropus. Key Words: Karataş, Cephalopoda, Mantle length, Cuttlebone, Beak length.