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This document provides information on the discovery of a female squid in the deep sea carrying large eggs. The squid was found in the Gulf of California at a depth of 2566m and is believed to be from the Gonatidae family. The size of the eggs is larger than what is typically found in other squid species. The document also discusses the reproductive strategies of squids and the potential advantages of producing large eggs. Overall, this research offers valuable insights into the reproductive biology of deep-sea cephalopods. Additionally, the document explores the development and characteristics of deep-sea cephalopod eggs, with a focus on giant gonatid squid eggs. The stable and predictable environmental conditions in the deep water column allow for fewer, larger eggs and advanced hatchlings. However, the cold waters of the deep sea result in long development times for these eggs. The document also highlights the limited knowledge about the development of large cephalopod eggs at low temperatures and the possibility of extensive multiyear brooding of giant eggs when predation pressure is low. The authors suggest that further exploration of the deep water column is necessary to gain a better understanding of the biology of these mysterious oceanic creatures. [Extracted from the article]

The pelagic cephalopods Japetella diaphana and Vampyroteuthis infernalis are charismatic and widely distributed members of deep pelagic ecosystems. Their habitat temperatures, metabolic rates, feeding and reproductive strategies all together suggest that the pace of life in these species is reduced when compared to neritic octopod species, but information on longevity, growth rates and age estimations are absent to date. To estimate the pace of life in pelagic octopods, this study investigated size at maturity, reproductive strategy, and the number of growth-increments in the upper beak lateral walls (LWS) of J. diaphana (an octopod) and V. infernalis (a vampyromorph). Daily deposition of growth increments in hard body structures (e.g., beaks and stylets) has been validated experimentally in some temperate and tropical octopods, but remains unquantified and not yet validated for most deep-sea and high-latitude cephalopods. We used a diverse assemblage of specimens ranging from early juveniles to adults for both species. Mature J. diaphana had a mantle length (ML) of 53–144 mm and a body mass (BM) of 18–235 g. A brooding female of J. diaphana captured at 1352 m in the Gulf of California was carrying 1419 eggs in pre-organogenetic stage that measured ~2.5 mm in diameter. The size range of mature V. infernalis was ML 66–122 mm and BM 34–286 g. The number of growth increments in the beaks ranged from 21 to 207 in J. diaphana and from 89 to 375 in V. infernalis. If the growth increments are formed daily, like in tropical octopod species, age estimates are incongruent with the low metabolic rates and reproductive strategies of the two species. These observations suggest that growth increments may require more than one day to be formed. To better understand the life histories of invertebrates in the largest but least studied habitat on the planet, age and growth validation studies are critical. • The pace of life of life of vampire squid and Japetella were examined. • Japetella diaphana and Vampyroteuthis infernalis have contrasting reproductive strategies. • Brooding in Japetella is estimated to last for two years in water temperature ~4 °C. • Feeding ecology and metabolic rates suggest non-daily deposition of beak growth increments. • Both species' life-history traits suggest a slow pace of life and longer lifespans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]