Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Museums

Regional Maps

Family CHTENOPTERYGIDAE Grimpe, 1922


Compiler and date details

C.C. Lu, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan

Introduction

The squid of the family Chtenopterygidae Grimpe, 1922 (also incorrectly spelt Ctenopterygidae*) are small to medium sized (less than 100 mm mantle length (ML)). They are easily recognised by the long, ribbed fins which, in adults, extend the length of the mantle. The family comprises only one genus, Ctenopteryx Appellöf.

Allan's (1945) record of this genus from eastern Australian waters was the first outside the North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. It has since been reported from tropical waters of the central and south-western Pacific by Rancurel (1970), from the north-eastern Indian Ocean by Fujita & Hattori (1976), and from off New South Wales by Brandt (1983). Lu & Phillips (1985) recorded it from the Coral and Tasman Seas.

Growth is allometric, the arms, tentacles and head all becoming relatively longer as the animal grows, while the body remains almost the same shape. The fins become relatively longer, being terminal at ML of less than 5 mm and extending the whole length of the mantle when it reaches 30 mm (Clarke 1966). With sexual maturity, male Ctenopteryx develop a large photophore within the posterior region of the body. Young (1983) concluded that the light produced, which is of a colour poorly detected by many potential predators, may be used to attract a mate.

No detailed information regarding the life history of Ctenopteryx is available from Australian waters or elsewhere. Off the New South Wales coast, larvae have been common, though not abundant in collections made during both summer and winter, suggesting that spawning is not restricted to a short season. Elsewhere, Ctenopteryx is preyed upon by lancetfish (Alepisaurus), albacore, dolphins and mesopelagic viper-fishes (Chauliodus) (Clarke 1966; Rancurel 1970; Fujita & Hattori 1976). The diet of Ctenopteryx is unknown.

Little is known regarding the vertical distribution of Ctenopteryx. Most specimens from Australian waters and elsewhere have been caught in the upper 150 m although day captures at more than 350 m have been made in the Atlantic. Roper & Young (1975) suggest that this genus inhabits near-surface waters at night. Ctenopteryx is regularly encountered off the east coast in tropical oceanic surface waters and in the East Australian Current system.

*The family name Ctenopterygidae Grimpe, 1922 is cited on the Official List of Rejected and Invalid Family-Group names in Zoology, ICZN Opinion 1793, original spelling.

 

Diagnosis

Ctenopterygids have long, ribbed fins extending the length of the mantle. The distal half of the dorsal, dorso-lateral and lateral arms bears four to six rows of suckers and the tentacular clubs bear eight to 14 rows of small suckers. The ventral arms have very few small suckers arranged in a zig-zag pattern. The funnel locking cartilage is simple and straight and the buccal connectives attach to the ventral border of the ventral arms. Photophores are present on the ink sac and posteriorly within the mantle in some species. Hectocotylisation in males is unknown.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
05-Jun-2024 CEPHALOPODA Cuvier, 1795 26-May-2023 MODIFIED Dr Mandy Reid
16-Jun-2022 CEPHALOPODA 13-May-2022 MODIFIED
20-Mar-2014 TEUTHIDA 20-Mar-2014 MODIFIED Dr Julian Finn (NMV)
12-Feb-2010 (import)