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Magnoteuthis type beta

Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione
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Containing group: Magnoteuthis

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 ...

Characteristics

  1. Arms
    1. Arm suckers with distinct but somewhat variable dentition on distal margin of sucker rings.

    Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
    Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

    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

    Scanning electron micrographs of the club suckers and enlarged views of the arm suckers can be seen here.

  2. Head
    1. Beaks. A description of the beaks (2D) can be found here.

  3. Funnel
    1. Funnel component of the locking apparatus is flask-shaped with a rather wide anterior stem and an elongate posterior bulb.

    2. Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      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.

  4. Photophores and pigmentation
    1. No trace of chromatophores or photophores was found.

    2. Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      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
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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

Page: Tree of Life Magnoteuthis type beta. Authored by Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

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/

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