- Idioteuthis cordiformis
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Idioteuthis cordiformis 
Holotype of Idioteuthis cordiformis
(83 mm ML)Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopoda Subclass: Coleoidea Order: Teuthida Suborder: Oegopsina Family: Mastigoteuthidae Genus: Idioteuthis Species: I. cordiformis Binomial name Idioteuthis cordiformis
(Chun, 1908)Synonyms - Mastigoteuthis cordiformis
Chun, 1908
Idioteuthis cordiformis is a species of whip-lash squid found in tropical regions of the west Pacific Ocean.
Contents
Description
Idioteuthis cordiformis is a large, deep water species growing up to one hundred centimetres long. Only a few specimens have been carefully observed and different authorities have described its colour as being pale flesh-pink, yellowish with small reddish-brown chromatophores or having thickly crowded deep brownish chromatophores. It is probably transparent in life with the tissues becoming opaque after death.[1] Like all squids it has five pairs of appendages. Arms 1, 2, 3 and 5 bear suckers with arm 3 being considerably larger than arm 1. Arm 4 is an elongated tentacle which is retractable. It is much longer than the arms and the distal end has a club with many small suckers which decrease in size towards the tip. The club is no wider than the rest of the tentacle.[2]
The cuticle is tough and covered with small, conical tubercules on round plaques. The dark red pigment is found in densely packed chromatophores but there are no photophores.[2] The head is separated from the mantle by a collar and below the head is the opening of the funnel which is ear-shaped. The eyes are large and highly developed, with relatively large lobes of the brain dedicated to their control.[1] The posterior end of the mantle has a semicircular fin on either side which extends three quarters of the way along the mantle.[3]
Distribution
Idioteuthis cordiformis is found in tropical waters around Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.[4]
Gallery
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Arm sucker
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Arm sucker
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Oral (top) and aboral (bottom) views of tentacular club
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Oral-oblique view of club sucker
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Lateral view of club sucker
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Ventral view of funnel locking-apparatus
References
- ^ a b Deep-Sea Cephalopods
- ^ a b Tree of Life Web Project
- ^ Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden. Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee Expedition auf dem Dampfer "Valdivia" 1898-1899, 18(1):1-401.
- ^ SeaLifeBase
External links
Categories: - Mastigoteuthis cordiformis
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