Sepiolidae paralarvae are a taxonomically challenging and ecologically understudied cephalopod assemblage across the North-eastern Atlantic. Given the various knowledge gaps, the present study characterises the sepiolid paralarvae community found in the Parque Nacional das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia, surrounding the Islas Cíes & Ons, sampled during peak upwelling periods from 2017-2018. Five distinct taxa were identified through COI DNA barcoding, with 14 individuals forming part of a putative undescribed taxon, Heteroteuthidinae sp. No described sepiolidae species in GenBank returned a COI similarity exceeding 90%. Phylogenetically, all 14 individuals resolved in a cohesive monophyletic clade. Ecological analyses suggested Heteroteuthidinae sp. occupies shallow, cold, and topographically complex niches, constrained by depth and temperature as significant drivers. Divergent allometric slopes in Total Length Ratio and Eye Index provide further significant distinctiveness. Species distribution modelling identified hotspots surrounding the Islas Cíes & Ons along shallow reef structures. All co-occurring taxa showed differing ecological niches, structured mainly through depth and prey availability, further supporting the uniqueness of Heteroteuthidinae sp. The results presented expand the sepiolid knowledge and diversity along the Galician coast, supporting the implementation of integrative taxonomy at the paralarval stage, and strengthening the baseline for long-term biodiversity monitoring surrounding the National Park.
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