Family ARCHITEUTHIDAE Pfeffer, 1900

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• ARCHITEUTHIDAE Pfeffer, G. 1900. Synopsis der Oegopsiden Cephalopoden. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten 17: 145-198.

  Type genus:

   Architeuthis Steenstrup, 1857.

 

Introduction

The giant squid family Architeuthidae Pfeffer, 1900 has a complex taxonomic history. No fewer than 21 poorly defined nominal species in approximately eight genera have been described, however, molecular studies indicate that the family is monotypic, with a single species Architeuthid dux Steenstrup, 1857 having a worldwide distribution (Winkelmann et al. 2013).

The first record of this family from Australian waters was of a stranded specimen from eastern Victoria, assigned by Allan (1948) to Architeuthis kirki C.W. Robson. A larval Architeuthis was caught in a midwater trawl in the upper 20 m off the central New South Wales coast in October, 1981 and a living juvenile female in this same region in the upper 300 m in January, 1982 (Lu 1986).

Individuals of Architeuthis species reach mantle lengths (ML) in excess of 4.5 m and weights of more than one tonne (Clarke 1966) and are the largest living cephalopods. Buoyancy is provided by a relatively high concentration of ammonium ions in the muscles of the mantle, head and arms (Clarke et al. 1979). The oxygen carrying capacity of the haemocyanin in the blood of Architeuthis is very low compared to that of other active oceanic squids such as ommastrephids (0.3 compared with 1.6 to 1.9 mM O2). This, coupled with the pronounced temperature sensitivity of its oxygen affinity, may limit the distribution of adult specimens to low water temperatures. Their encounters with warm currents may result in suffocation and hence explain the high correlation of strandings with warm water inflow in some areas (Brix 1983).

Size at maturity in male Architeuthis appears to be variable. Specimens from 179 mm to in excess of 1000 mm ML have been found with apparently viable spermatophores (Toll & Hess 1981). The size at which females first reach maturity is uncertain. Female Architeuthis lack spermathecae. A recently captured female with ML 2.4 m was found have mated. Spermatophores were found embedded in the skin on both ventral arms. On one arm, the remains of several spermatophores up to 80 mm in length radiated under the skin from a single small entry point, about 10 mm in diameter; they did not penetrate the arm musculature. It is unclear how the spermatophores are inserted; the male may inject the spermatophores with the large muscular penis or use his beak to make the entry wound through which they are injected (Norman & Lu 1997). Mature eggs in Architeuthis reach 1.2–1.8 mm in length (Roeleveld & Lipinski 1991). Boyle (1986) estimated the potential fecunidity of a female at over 10 million eggs.

Examination of the blood chemistry of Architeuthis together with the lack of strong musculature in the funnel and fins, suggest that these animals are relatively poor swimmers and passive, sluggish predators (Roper & Boss 1982; Brix 1983). Architeuthis has been recorded from the diets of sperm whales and mako sharks in Australian waters (Clarke 1980; Dunning et al. 1993) and elsewhere from lancetfish, swordfish, albacore tuna and sperm whales (Clarke 1966; Roper & Young 1972; Toll & Hess 1981). Fish and cephalopods (including ommastrephids and histioteuthids) have been found among the stomach contents of the few specimens of Architeuthis examined (Pérez-Gándaras & Guerra 1978; Toll & Hess 1981; Roper & Boss 1982).

Data on numerical abundance of Architeuthis remains in individual sperm whale stomachs suggest that they may be solitary animals (Clarke 1980). The vertical distribution of adults is unclear. Clarke (1980) and Roper & Boss (1982) suggest that they may live on or near the bottom in depths of 1000 m or more. The capture of a larva in near-surface waters off eastern Australia may be an indication of ontogenetic descent (Lu 1986). Jackson et al. (1991) reported that the growth rings on the statolith of Architeuthis are similar in appearance to daily growth rings found in other squids studied; a juvenile female of 42.2 cm ML had 153 rings.

The distribution of Architeuthis in Australian waters remains unclear although all available records are from south of 32°. Most records refer to beached animals.

 

Diagnosis

The genus Architeuthis Steenstrup is characterised by a muscular mantle, short oval fins and simple, straight, funnel locking cartilage. The buccal connectives attach to the dorsal border of arms IV. The arms have biserial suckers with many small sharp teeth. The proximal end of the tentacular club has a distinct cluster of small suckers and knobs, and larger quadriserial suckers distally. Two longitudinal rows of alternating suckers and pads are present along the tentacular stalks. Photophores are absent. The presence of hectocotylus in mature males is uncertain, as reports are contradictory.

 

General References

Allan, J. 1948. A rare giant squid. Australian Museum Magazine 9: 306-308

Boyle, P.R. 1986. Report on a specimen of Architeuthis stranded near Aberdeen, Scotland. Journal of Molluscan Studies 52: 81-82

Brix, O. 1983. Giant squid may die when exposed to warm water currents. Nature (London) 303(2): 422-423

Clarke, M.R. 1966. A review of the systematics and ecology of oceanic squids. Advances in Marine Biology 4: 91-300

Clarke, M.R. 1980. Cephalopoda in the diet of sperm whales of the southern hemisphere and their bearing on sperm whale ecology. Discovery Reports 37: 1-324

Clarke, M.R., Denton, E.J. & Gilpin-Brown, J.B. 1979. On the use of ammonium for buoyancy in squids. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 59: 259-276

Dunning, M.C., Clarke, M.R. & Lu, C.C. 1993. Cephalopods in the diet of oceanic sharks caught off eastern Australia. pp. 119-131 in Okutani, T., O'Dor, R.K. & Kubodera, T. (eds). Recent Advances in Cephalopod Fisheries Biology. Tokyo : Tokai University Press.

Jackson, G.D., Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1991. Growth rings within the statolith microstructure of the giant squid Architeuthis. Veliger 34(4): 331-334

Lu, C.C. 1986. Smallest of the largest — first record of giant squid larval specimen. Australian Shell News (53): 9

Nesis, K.N. 1982. Cephalopods of the World. English Translation from Russian. Levitov, B.S. (Transl.), Burgess, L.A. (ed.) (1987) Neptune City : T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 351 pp. [English Translation from Russian]

Nesis, K.N. 1987. Cephalopods of the World. Neptune City, N.J. : T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Ltd 351 pp.

Norman, M.D. & Lu, C.C. 1997. Sex in giant squid. Nature (London) 389: 683-684

Pérez-Gándaras, G. & Guerra, A. 1978. Nueva cita de Architeuthis (Cephalopoda: Teuthoidea): Descripción y alimentación. Investigacion Pesquera 42(2): 401-414

Roeleveld, M.A. & Lipinski, M.R. 1991. The giant squid Architeuthis in southern African waters. Journal of Zoology, London 224: 431-477

Roper, C.F.E. & Boss, K.J. 1982. The giant squid. Scientific American 246(4): 96-105

Roper, C.F.E. & Jereb, P. 2010. Family Architeuthidae. pp. 121-123 in Jereb, P. & Roper, C.F.E. (Eds). Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 2. Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4. Rome : FAO Vol. 2 pp. 1-605.

Roper, C.F.E. & Young, R.E. 1972. First recordings of juvenile giant squid, Architeuthis (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 85(16): 205-222

Toll, R.B. & Hess, S.C. 1981. A small, mature male Architeuthis (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) with remarks on maturation in the family. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 94(3): 753-760

Winkelmann, I., Campos, P.F., Strugnell, J., Cherel, Y., Smith, P.J., Kubodera, T., Allcock, L., Kampmann, M.-L., Schroeder, H., Guerra, A., Norman, M., Finn, J., Ingrao, D., Clarke, M. & Gilbert, M.T.P. 2013. Mitochondrial genome diversity and population structure of the giant squid Architeuthis: genetics sheds new light on one of the most enigmatic marine species. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (B) 280, no. 1759: 20130273

 

Common Name References

Roper, C.F.E. & Jereb, P. 2010. Family Architeuthidae. pp. 121-123 in Jereb, P. & Roper, C.F.E. (Eds). Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 2. Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4. Rome : FAO Vol. 2 pp. 1-605. [121] (Giant Squids)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
05-Jun-2024	CEPHALOPODA Cuvier, 1795	06-May-2024	MODIFIED	Dr Mandy Reid
20-Mar-2014	TEUTHIDA	20-Mar-2014	MODIFIED	Dr Julian Finn (NMV)
		12-Feb-2010	(import)