- Asperoteuthis acanthoderma
-
Asperoteuthis acanthoderma 
A specimen of A. acanthoderma found floating at the surface off Little Cayman in May 2008. The squid measured over 7 feet (2.1 m) in length.[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopoda Subclass: Coleoidea Order: Teuthida Suborder: Oegopsina Family: Chiroteuthidae Genus: Asperoteuthis Species: A. acanthoderma Binomial name Asperoteuthis acanthoderma
(Lu, 1977)Synonyms - Asperoteuthis famelica
Berry, 1909 - Chiroteuthis acanthoderma
Lu, 1977
Asperoteuthis acanthoderma is a species of squid belonging to the family Chiroteuthidae. It is characterised by the tiny, pointed tubercules present on its skin and a Y-shaped groove in the funnel locking-apparatus.[2]
The largest recorded specimen measured 78 cm in mantle length (ML), although its original total length is unknown as it was missing the very delicate feeding tentacles.[3] A smaller specimen, 45 cm ML, had tentacles 12 times the length of its mantle, giving a total length of almost 5.5 m.[4] This makes A. acanthoderma one of the longest known cephalopods.
The type specimen of A. acanthoderma was collected in the Celebes Sea and is deposited at the Zoologisk Museum of Københavns Universitet in Copenhagen.[5] A. acanthoderma is also known from waters off Grand Cayman,[6] Little Cayman,[7] the Florida Keys,[1] Okinawa,[4] and Hawaii.[8]
The first known specimen from the Atlantic Ocean was found by a charter fisherman while floating in 250 m (820 ft) deep water off the southern coast of Key West, Florida on February 20, 2007.[9] It measured 73 cm ML and is thought to have been 4.9 to 7.3 m (16 to 24 ft) long when intact.[10] Although an incomplete specimen, missing most of its tentacles, it weighed 6 kg (13.2 lb) and measured 2 m (6.5 ft) in total length.[9]
In 2007, teuthologist Richard E. Young stated that "probably fewer than 10" specimens of A. acanthoderma had ever been reported.[10] Recent years have seen a great influx of new specimens, however; since the capture of the first specimen from the Atlantic, at least 4 additional specimens have been recovered from the Caribbean Basin alone.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Six-foot squid found in Cayman waters. Cayman News Service, October 6, 2009.
- ^ Lu, C.C. 1977. A new species of squid, Chiroteuthis acanthoderma, from the Southwestern Pacific (Cephalopoda, Chirothidae). Steenstrupia Zoological Museum University of Copenhagen 4(16): 179-188.
- ^ Okutani, T. 1995. Cuttlefish and squids of the world in color. Publication for the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the National Cooperative Association of Squid Processors.
- ^ a b Tsuchiya, K. & T. Okutani 1993. Rare and interesting squids in Japan -X. Recent occurrences of big squids from Okinawa. Venus 52: 299-311.
- ^ Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda
- ^ Lollar, K. 2007. Big squid in Keys could be first outside Pacific. The News-Press.
- ^ Giant squid recovered, preserved. Cayman Net News, May 22, 2008.
- ^ Roper, C.F.E. & C.C. Lu 1990. Comparative Morphology and Function of Dermal Structures in Oceanic Squids (Cephalopoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 493: 1-40.
- ^ a b Lee, C.E. 2007. Rare squid draws attention Mote shows off elusive creature. Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 10, 2007.
- ^ a b Raloff, J. 2007. It's a Girl: Atlantic mystery squid undergoes scrutiny. Science News 171(11): 165.
External links
Categories:- Squid
- Animals described in 1977
- Asperoteuthis famelica
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