The Teca Ovarica of Punta Campanella ends up on Scientific Reports. Spotted 10 years ago at 50 meters deep. An international study has clarified the mystery: inside there are thousands of squid eggs.
An extremely rare and spectacular sighting. A large, transparent, gelatinous sphere on the seabed of the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area, 50 meters deep. Now, that sighting has been published in the prestigious international scientific journal "Scientific Reports," thanks to the studies of an international team of researchers, including Roberto Sandulli, professor of zoology at the Parthenope University of Naples.
the sighting
Ten years ago, Edoardo Ruspantini and Daniele Castrucci, two divers, spotted and photographed this large gelatinous sphere on the seabed near Punta della Campanella, in zone B of the Marine Protected Area.
The photos and the news relaunched by the Marine Park made the rounds on the web and in the national media.
Very few similar sightings in Italy. You can count them on the fingers of one hand. When asked by the Park, Professor Sandulli, at the time, immediately spoke of an ovarian case produced by female cephalopid molluscs. But, in the absence of samples taken, ten years ago it had not been possible to identify the species with certainty.
Now, the international study has been able to analyze the samples taken in recent months from cases identical to the one spotted at Punta Campanella. The DNA test has clarified all doubts: it is the ovary case of a black squid, scientific name Illex coindetii. It contains thousands of eggs.
The peculiarity of the study is not due to the species, which is widespread in our seas, but to the rarity of sightings and the lack of in-depth analysis of these gelatinous and “mysterious” spheres. Less than 100 have been seen in 40 years. Almost all in the seas of northern Europe, in Scandinavia in particular. Very rare reports in Italy.
“I remember this exceptional sighting 10 years ago, even though I was not yet President of the Park - observes Lucio Cacace, President of the Punta Campanella MPA - Now we find it in a prestigious international magazine and for this we thank Professor Sandulli and the Parthenope University. Our biodiversity is a precious resource that absolutely must be protected.”
The article published by Scientific Reports also talks about the importance of Citizen science (science done by citizens) and reporting particular sightings that can prove valuable for scientific research.
To report sightings, the Punta Campanella MPA has a Citizen Science site – www.citizensciencepc.org – an email info@citizensciencepc.org , and the Facebook pages Citizen Science Punta Campanella and Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area.
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