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Grimpoteuthis wuelkeri: Description Continued
Martin Collins, Richard E. Young, and Michael Vecchione
- Eyes
- Moderate size, diameter is 34% of ML.
- Funnel
- Funnel organ V-shaped.
- Fins
- Large, fin span 70% of total length, fin length 97% of head width.
- Anterior margin with distinct lobe.
- Gills
- Half-orange shape.
- 6-7 primary lamellae/gill.
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Figure. Ventral view of the mantle cavity of G. wuelkeri, female, 115 mm ML. Drawing from Collins (2003).
- Optic lobes and nerves
- Optic lobes spherical.
- Single optic nerve bundle passes through/by white body.
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Figure. Optic lobe, optic nerve tract, white body, eye and posterior salivary gland (arrow) of G. wuelkeri, female, 115 mm ML. Drawing from Collins (2003).
- Digestive tract
- Radula present, poorly developed, homodont.
- Small anterior salivary glands on buccal mass; small posterior salivary glands posterior to brain (see arrows on drawings at left and drawing above).
- Esophagus two times length of intestine.
- Crop absent.
- Digestive gland unilobular.
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Figure. Top - Dorsal-oblique view of the digestive tract of G. wuelkeri. Bottom - Dorsal view of brain, buccal mass, esophagus and anterior and posterior salivary glands of G. wuelkeri, female, 115 mm ML. Drawings from Collins (2003).
- Beaks
- Lower beak with rounded hood; wings with diagonal flexure.
- Lateral walls without ridges or folds.
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Figure. Upper (left) and lower (right) beaks of G. wuelkeri, female, 115 mm ML. Drawings from Collins (2003).
- Male reproductive tract
- Accessory gland II larger.
- Penis short.
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Figure. Dorsal (bottom) and ventral (top) views of the male reproductive tract of G. wuelkeri, male, 64 mm ML. Drawing from Collins (2003).
- Female reproductive tract
- Larger distal portion of oviducal gland with green-brown color; proximal portion cream color.
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Figure. Ventral view of the female reproductive tract of G. wuelkeri, female, 110 mm ML. Drawing from Collins (2003).
- Pigmentation
- Pigment lacking from oral and aboral surface in specimens preserved in Steadman's solution except for purple pigment on posterior edge of fins.
- Measurements
- Measurements and counts can be found here.
Comments
The above description is from Collins, in press.
References
Collins, M. A. 2003. The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the North-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species. Zool. Journ. Linnean Soc., 139: 93-127.
About This Page
Martin Collins
Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, UK
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA
Page copyright © 2002 Martin Collins, , and