Ommastrephid squid paralarvae potential nursery habitat in the tropical-subtropical convergence off Mexico

•Preferred nursery habitat of SD complex paralarvae is located in the transitional zone between tropical and subtropical water masses.•Suitable paralarvae habitat is associated with shallow thermocline and high kinetic energy.•La Niña favored a major abundance in the southern extension of the nursery habitat.•During El Niño the suitable habitat nursery is reduced to an area south of the tip of Baja California.•The recent warming in the paralarvae nursery habitat could be a major factor in the shift to the dwarf morphotype of D. gigas in the Gulf of California.