• Chtenopterygidae Grimpe, G. 1922. Systematische Übersicht der Europäischen Cephalopoden. Sitzungsberichte der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Leipzig 45–48: 36-52.

  Type genus:

   Chtenopteryx Appellöf, 1890.
• Ctenopterygidae Grimpe, G. 1922. Systematische Übersicht der Europäischen Cephalopoden. Sitzungsberichte der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Leipzig 45–48: 36-52 [original spelling].

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.

General References

Allan, J. 1945. Planktonic cephalopod larvae from the eastern Australian coast. Records of the Australian Museum 21: 317-350 pls 24-27

Brandt, S.B. 1983. Pelagic squid associations with a warm-core eddy of the East Australian Current. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 34: 573-585

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

Fernández-Álvarez, F.Á., Taite, M., Vecchione, M., Villanueva, R. & Allcock, L.A. 2022. A phylogenomic look into the systematics of oceanic squids (order Oegopsida). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194: 1212-1235

Fujita, K. & Hattori, J. 1976. Stomach content analysis of longnose lancetfish, Alepisaurus ferox, in the eastern Indian Ocean and the Coral Sea. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 23(3): 133-142

Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36

Rancurel, P. 1970. Les contenus stomacaux d'Alepisaurus ferox dans le sud-ouest Pacifique (Céphalopodes). Cahiers O.R.S.T.O.M. Serie Océanographique 8(4): 4-87

Roper, C.F.E. & Young, R.E. 1975. Vertical distribution of pelagic cephalopods. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 209: 1-51

Young, R.E. 1983. Oceanic bioluminscence: an overview of general functions. Bulletin of Marine Science 33(4): 829-845

History of changes

• Chtenopteryx Appellöf, A. 1889. Teuthologische Beiträge. 1. Chtenopteryx n. g., Veranya sicula Krohn, Calliteuthis Verrill. Bergens Museums Arsberetning 1889: 1-34 [4].

  Type species:

   Sepioteuthis sicula Vérany, 1851 by subsequent designation, see Pfeffer, G. 1900. Synopsis der Oegopsiden Cephalopoden. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten 17: 145-198.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Mediterranean Sea.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Distribution References

General References

Escánez, A., Roura, Á., Riera, R., Gonzalez, Á. F., & Guerra, Á. 2018. New data on the systematics of comb-fin squids Chtenopteryx spp. (Cephalopoda: Chtenopterygidae) from the Canary Islands. Zoological Studies 57 40: 1-11

History of changes

• Sepioteuthis sicula Vérany, J.B. 1851. Céphalopodes de la Méditerranée. In, Mollusques Méditeranéens observés, décrits figurés et chromolithographiés d'après le vivant ouvrage dedie à SM le Roi Charles Albert. 1: 1–132. [75].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown, Messina, Mediterranean Sea.
• Chtenopteryx fimbriatus Appellöf, A. 1889. Teuthologische Beiträge. 1. Chtenopteryx n. g., Veranya sicula Krohn, Calliteuthis Verrill. Bergens Museums Arsberetning 1889: 1-34 [4].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.
• Ctenopteryx cyprinoides Joubin, L. 1894. Note sur les céphalopodes recueillis dans l'estomac d'un dauphin de la Mediterranée. Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 19: 61-68 [64].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.
• Calliteuthis nevroptera Jatta, G. 1896. I Cefalopodi viventi nel Golfo di Napoli (sistematica). Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 23: 1-268 [118].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Pfeffer, G. 1912. Die Cephalopoden der Plankton-Expedition. Zugleich eine monographische Ubersicht der Oegopsiden Cephalopoden. Ergebnisse der Plankton-Expedition der Humboldt-Stiftung 2: 1-815 pls 1-48 [332]

Generic Combinations

• Ctenopteryx siculus (Vérany, 1851).

Introduction

Escánez et al. (2018) compared specimens of Chtenopteryx sicula from a range of localities using molecular data and found that the taxon as currently recognised is not monophyletic. Four clades were recovered in the molecular analysis. The type locality for Chtenopteryx sicula is Messina, Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) and specimens from the Atlantic Ocean appear to conform to this species. Two other species from the Pacific Ocean have been wrongly assigned to Chtenopteryx sicula. One of these clades likely corresponds to C. sepioloides, a valid species from the Pacific Ocean and the remaining clade corresponds to a sibling species that needs to be described, Further genetic and morphological analysis is needed to determine to what species the Australian representatives of Chtenopteryx belong.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Ecological Descriptors

Mesopelagic, temperate.

General References

Allan, J. 1945. Planktonic cephalopod larvae from the eastern Australian coast. Records of the Australian Museum 21: 317-350 pls 24-27

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

Escánez, A., Roura, Á., Riera, R., Gonzalez, Á. F., & Guerra, Á. 2018. New data on the systematics of comb-fin squids Chtenopteryx spp. (Cephalopoda: Chtenopterygidae) from the Canary Islands. Zoological Studies 57 40: 1-11

Watson, G.F. & Chaloupka, M.Y. 1982. Zooplankton of Bass Strait: species composition, systematics and artificial key to species. Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 1: 1-123

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [47] (Comb-finned Squid)

History of changes