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The present document reviews the knowledge currently available on the biology, ecology and exploitation of Merluccius merluccius, Mullus barbatus, Octopus vulgaris and Parapenaeus longirostris, taken from the list of MedSudMed target species. Available knowledge was organized to furnish a synthetic description of these species, including species description (meristics), ecology (geographical distribution, habitats, migrations), biogical information (maximum size, spawning activity, length at first maturity, eggs, larvae and post-larvae, recruitment at habitat and nurseries, sex ratio, length–weight relationship, maximum age and natural mortality, Von Bertalanffy growth function, feeding behaviour, stock units), evaluation and exploitation (abundance indices from trawl surveys, strength of recruitment, stock assessment, fisheries, fishing zones and seasons, yield, fishing and discards). Finally a brief compilation of current fishery legislation and management in each country was made.