Octopoteuthis
| Octopoteuthis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Family: | Octopoteuthidae |
| Genus: | Octopoteuthis Rüppell, 1844 [1] |
| Type species | |
| Octopoteuthis sicula Rüppell, 1844
| |
| Species | |
|
see text | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
Octopoteuthis is a genus of squid, one of the two referred to as octopus squid (family Octopoteuthidae), the other being Taningia, its sister genus. Both Octopoteuthis and Taningia are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, which led to their common name.[3]
Classification
[edit]This genus is separated from Taningia by adults possessing spindle-shaped photophores on the tips of all 8 arms (as opposed to a globular pair on a single arm pair in Taningia); the presence of additional photophores embedded in the mantle, head, and arms (the location and sizes of which vary among the species); and a smaller adult size, with mantle lengths (ML) of up to 500 mm (20 in), but typically not exceeding 200 mm (7.9 in). This genus possesses two rows of arm hooks on each arm pair, which may already be present at 2.5 mm ML. The paralarvae of this genus posses "weak", gelatinous tentacle stalks, the tentacles themselves are lost at about 12 mm (0.47 in) ML. Paired photophores may be present on the ink sac at 15 mm (0.59 in) ML.[2][4]
The species limits of the genus are in need of further research; for example, some authorities have stated that the Mediterranean species Octopoteuthis sicula is apparently the senior synonym of Octopoteuthis danae and that it is very closely related to, or possibly conspecific with, Octopoteuthis megaptera.[5]
The following species are recognised by the World Register of Marine Species:[1]
- Octopoteuthis danae Joubin, 1931
- Octopoteuthis deletron Young, 1972
- Octopoteuthis indica Naef, 1923
- Octopoteuthis longiptera * Akimushkin, 1963
- Octopoteuthis megaptera (Verrill, 1885)
- Octopoteuthis nielseni Robson, 1948
- Octopoteuthis rugosa Clarke, 1980
- Octopoteuthis sicula Rüppell, 1844, Ruppell's octopus squid
Species marked with an asterisk (*) is a nomen dubium and may not be a valid taxon
Additional species were recovered by a 2019 study, but they have not been corroborated by WoRMS or SeaLifeBase.[6][1] The study also separates Octopoteuthis into 4 species groups. These species recovered in the study are:[7]
- Octopoteuthis fenestra
- Octopoteuthis laticauda
- Octopoteuthis leviuncus
- Octopoteuthis sp. "IO"
- Octopoteuthis sp. "Giant Pacific"
- Octopoteuthis sp. "Giant Atlantic"
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Julian Finn (2016). "Octopoteuthis Rüppell, 1844". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ a b Roper, C.F.E.; Jereb, P. (2010). Family Octopoteuthidae. In P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 2. Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 2 (PDF) (4 ed.). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. pp. 262–268. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ Nixon, Marion; Young, John Z. (2003). The Brains and Lives of Cephalopods. Oxford University Press. pp. 193–195. ISBN 0198527616. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Family Octopoteuthidae - octopus squids". sealifebase.ca. SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Young, Richard E. & Michael Vecchione (2016). "Octopoteuthis Ruppell 1844. Version 16 November 2016". The Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "10 Species in Family Octopoteuthidae". sealifebase.ca. SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Jesse Tyler (2019). Systematics of the Octopoteuthidae Berry, 1912 (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) (Thesis). Auckland University of Technology.