Trophic ecology of the deep-sea squid <i>Moroteuthopsis ingens</i> (Cephalopoda: Onychoteuthidae) from the Chatham Rise, Aotearoa New Zealand

Cephalopods form important components of marine trophic systems worldwide, including those in the South Pacific. Moroteuthopsis ingens (Onychoteuthidae) is one most abundant deep–sea squids Aotearoa New Zealand region and preyed upon by predators such as sperm whale orange roughy. However, despite many publications on M. ingens’ diet, knowledge its feeding ecology remains limited. In this study, we analysed prey from Chatham Rise (an ecologically economically east Te Waipounamu/New Zealand’s Island) using DNA barcoding otolith identification. Lanternfishes (Myctophidae) were frequently encountered item, but other teleost species, cephalopods crustacean fragments also found, indicating opportunistic likely cannibalistic behaviour. Five fish species (including a possibly undescribed Gymnoscopelus) Bathyteuthis abyssicola are reported items for first time. appears to be component several dynamic food chains plays an role transfer carbon throughout environments Southern Hemisphere.