Asperoteuthis acanthoderma
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| Asperoteuthis acanthoderma | ||||||||||||||||||
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 Only known specimen of A. acanthoderma from the Atlantic Ocean. (73 cm ML)
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| Asperoteuthis acanthoderma (Lu, 1977) |
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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.[1]
The largest recorded specimen measures 78 cm in mantle length (ML), although its original total length is unknown as it is missing the very delicate feeding tentacles.[2] A smaller specimen, 45 cm ML, has tentacles 12 times the length of its mantle, giving a total length of almost 5.5 m.[3] 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.[4] A. acanthoderma is also known from waters off Grand Cayman,[5] Okinawa,[3] and Hawaii.[6]
Additionally, there exists one record of this species from the Caribbean Basin.[5] This animal, the only known specimen from the Atlantic Ocean, measures 73 cm ML and is thought to have been 4.9 to 7.3 m (16 to 24 ft) long when intact.[7] It 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.[8] Although an incomplete specimen, missing most of its tentacles, it weighs 6 kg (13.2 lb) and measures 2 m (6.5 ft) in total length.[8]
According to Richard E. Young, "probably fewer than 10" specimens of A. acanthoderma have ever been reported.[7]
Due to its relatively large size, this species has in the past been misidentified as the giant squid Architeuthis, though it is not closely related to it.[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 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
- ^ a b Lollar, K. 2007. Big squid in Keys could be first outside Pacific. The News-Press.
- ^ 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 Raloff, J. 2007. It's a Girl: Atlantic mystery squid undergoes scrutiny. Science News 171(11): 165.
- ^ a b Lee, C.E. 2007. Rare squid draws attention Mote shows off elusive creature. Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 10, 2007.
- ^ Salcedo-Vargas, M.A. 1999. An Asperoteuthid Squid (Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Chiroteuthidae) from New Zealand Misidentified as Architeuthis. Zoologische Reihe 75(1): 47-49.
- Giant squid recovered, preserved. Cayman Net News, May 22, 2008.
