Magnoteuthis type beta
Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione
Introduction
We have examined a single specimen from sub-Antarctic waters that could represent a new taxon, but insufficient information is available to resolve this problem. Although no tentacle is attached, the two tentacles were found in the catch.
Brief diagnosis:
A Magnoteuthis ...
- with slightly toothed arm suckers.
- without pigmentation on most of the head, mantle and fins. (?)
Characteristics
- Arms
- Arm suckers with distinct but somewhat variable dentition on distal margin of sucker rings.
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Figure. Arms suckers of Mg. "type Beta". Left - Oblique oral view of sucker 34, arm II. Right - Oblique oral view of sucker 32, arms IV. Scanning electron micrographs by R. Young
- Arm suckers with distinct but somewhat variable dentition on distal margin of sucker rings.
- Head
- Funnel
- Funnel component of the locking apparatus is flask-shaped with a rather wide anterior stem and an elongate posterior bulb.
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Figure. Funnel locking-apparatus of Mg. "type beta". Left - Frontal of funnel component. Middle - Frontal view of mantle component. Right - Side view of Mantle component. Photographs by R. Young.
- Photophores and pigmentation
- No trace of chromatophores or photophores was found.
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Figure. Lateral view of the head of Mg. "type beta", showing the apparent absence of chromatophores. Compare this photograph with the title photograph which shows what appears to be epithelial pigmentation around the eye. Photograph by R. Young.
Comments
Additional details of the description can be seen here.
The shape of the funnel locking-apparatus is similar to that of Mg. microlucens. The beaks show features intermediate between Mg. magna and Mg. microlucens. The absence of chromatophores, if real, is unique. Arm sucker dentition is present but slightly different from that of Mg. microlucens, but more specimens are needed to determine if this difference is typical.
Distribution
The single specimen was captured in subantarctic waters of the South Pacific at 47°S, 168°W.Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Mastigoteuthis type ß |
|---|---|
| Location | Subantarctic Pacific |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Sex | Female |
| Life Cycle Stage | Immature |
| View | Side |
| Size | 71 mm ML |
| Collection | NMNH 817315 |
| Copyright |
©
|
About This Page
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Richard E. Young at and Michael Vecchione at
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Page: Tree of Life
Magnoteuthis type beta.
Authored by
Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione.
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- First online 19 November 2007
- Content changed 10 October 2017
Citing this page:
Young, Richard E. and Michael Vecchione. 2017. Magnoteuthis type beta. Version 10 October 2017 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Magnoteuthis_type_beta/65357/2017.10.10 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
