Octopoteuthidae
Encyclopedia
Octopoteuthidae is a family
of squid
comprising two genera
. The family is characterised by tentacle
s which cease to grow after the paralarval stage; and the use of a penis
, instead of a hectocotylus
.
The species listed above with an asterisk (* ) are questionable and need further study to determine if they are a valid species or a synonym.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
comprising two genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. The family is characterised by tentacle
Tentacle
A tentacle or bothrium is one of usually two or more elongated flexible organs present in animals, especially invertebrates. The term may also refer to the hairs of the leaves of some insectivorous plants. Usually, tentacles are used for feeding, feeling and grasping. Anatomically, they work like...
s which cease to grow after the paralarval stage; and the use of a penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
, instead of a hectocotylus
Hectocotylus
A hectocotylus is one of the arms of the male of most kinds of cephalopods that is modified in various ways to effect the fertilization of the female's eggs. It is a specialized, extended muscular hydrostat used to store spermatophores, the male gametophore...
.
Species
- Genus Octopoteuthis
- Octopoteuthis danae
- Octopoteuthis deletronOctopoteuthis deletronOctopoteuthis deletron is a species of squid in the genus Octopoteuthis. Found at depths of 400 to 800 m in the Pacific Ocean, they grow to at least 24 cm. Males find it difficult to detect the gender of other individuals they encounter in the dark depths, so they have adopted a strategy of...
- Octopoteuthis indica *
- Octopoteuthis longiptera
- Octopoteuthis megaptera
- Octopoteuthis nielseni
- Octopoteuthis rugosa
- Octopoteuthis sicula, Ruppell's Octopus Squid
- Genus TaningiaTaningiaTaningia is a genus of squid in the family Octopoteuthidae. The status of Taningia persica is questionable. The genus is named after Danish fisheries biologist Aage Vedel Taaning .-External links:*...
- Taningia danae, Dana Octopus Squid
- Taningia persicaTaningia persicaTaningia persica is a species of squid in the family Octopoteuthidae. Its validity has been questioned. The description of Taningia persica is based on a paralarva of Taningia from the Gulf of Aden, presumably Taningia danae....
*
The species listed above with an asterisk (