Distribution of Pareledone spp. (Octopodidae: Eledoninae) around South Georgia

Small benthic octopodids of the genus Pareledone are commonly found around the shelf area of the sub-Antarctic island South Georgia but little is known about their biology. During three consecutive groundfish surveys in January-February 1994, September 1997 and January 2000, a total of 894 Pareledone spp. were caught in demersal trawl samples at depths of 107-440 m. Pareledone turqueti was the more abundant species and was found across the entire survey area around Shag Rocks and South Georgia, whereas P. polymorpha was absent from the Shag Rocks area in 1994 and only single specimens were obtained in the subsequent surveys. In addition, five specimens of the rare octopodid Thaumeledone gunteri were caught from a deeper station (<350 m depth). The geographic and bathymetric distributions of these three species are discussed as is their reproductive biology.