10.1016/s0967-0653(98)82392-2

Two egg masses of the ommastrephid squid Todarodes pacific us (Steenstrup, 1880) are described.Immature squid were collected from inshore waters of southern Hokkaido, Japan, and maintained in a raceway tank where they matured, mated, and spawned.Both gelatinous masses were spherical and nearly neutrally buoyant.The larger mass measured 80 cm in diameter and contained approximately 200,000 eggs.The egg-mass surface layer effectively prevented crustaceans, protozoans, and bacteria from infesting the masses.Paralarvae hatched after 4-6 days at 18-19°C and actively swam at once, with many individuals swimming at the surface.Both masses disintegrated soon after hatching.Paralarvae died approximately 6-7 days after hatching, presumably due to starvation.