Stylet reference

**bathypol** · Mar 09, '09, 12:24pm

Sorry to be such a bother with all these questions but I have just one more (for now

) I am trying to find the first reference for stylets in octopus (supposed to be from around the early 1900's). The earliest I have been able to find is from the 1990's. Does anyone know of this reference?

**cuttlegirl** · Mar 09, '09, 2:05pm

How about this reference from 1908 (page 445)?
http://books.google.com/books?id=Qck...um=3&ct=result

**bathypol** · Mar 09, '09, 4:47pm

Thanks Cuttlegirl! I just ordered it

**Steve O'Shea** · Mar 13, '09, 10:37pm

Hmmmm.

There is a very thorough description of these structures in Eledone, pp. 490-491, in Isgrove (1909). LMBC Memoirs 18: 469-573 + 10 plates.

Many university libraries have this old memoir series, so it shouldn't be too difficult to lay your hands on it.

**bathypol** · Mar 14, '09, 6:44pm

Thanks Steve...I'll find it

**bathypol** · Mar 26, '09, 5:11pm

I just wanted to thank you both for the references. I found the stylet and am now on my way to aging octopus.

Thanks again

**DWhatley** · Mar 26, '09, 5:37pm

While you are doing the research, it would be a huge benefit if there is anything external that suggests the internal findings!!!!

**bathypol** · Mar 26, '09, 5:56pm

I'm taking as many morphometric measures of each specimen as I can along with pictures of each one. So hopefully something coincides with the age externally.

**Steve O'Shea** · Mar 27, '09, 4:03pm

Originally Posted by bathypol

I just wanted to thank you both for the references. I found the stylet and am now on my way to aging octopus.

Thanks again

Are you going to try to validate any bands/rings you find by using stains at any point (unfortunately on live animals), and then extract them a known number of days post staining, post mortem?

You could then compare any banding/staining pattern with increments also left on the beaks.

There's a bit of literature out there on this already.

**bathypol** · Mar 27, '09, 6:33pm

Originally Posted by Steve O'Shea

Are you going to try to validate any bands/rings you find by using stains at any point (unfortunately on live animals), and then extract them a known number of days post staining, post mortem?

You could then compare any banding/staining pattern with increments also left on the beaks.

There's a bit of literature out there on this already.

I'd like to do that but unfortunately all my specimens are in a freezer. If I could get my hands on live individuals rather than bycatch from trawls, it'd be great. But right now I'm relying on whatever I can find.