• CRANCHIOIDEA Prosch, 1847.

History of changes

• CRANCHIIDAE Prosch, V. 1847. Nogle nye Cephalopoder. Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes. Selskabs Skrifter. Kjøbenhavn 5 1: 53-72.

  Type genus:

   Cranchia Leach, 1817.
• DESMOTEUTHIDAE Verrill, A.E. 1881. The cephalopods of the north-eastern coast of America, Part II. The smaller cephalopods, including the "squids" and the octopi, with other allied forms. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences 5: 259-446.
• LOLIGOPSIDAE Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Mollusca in the Collection of the British Museum. 1. Cephalopoda Antepedia. London : British Museum (Natural History) 164 pp.
• BATHOTHAUMATIDAE Grimpe, G. 1922. Systematische Übersicht der Europäischen Cephalopoden. Sitzungsberichte der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Leipzig 45–48: 36-52.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412

Introduction

The diverse family Cranchiidae Prosch, 1849 consists of small to very large (more than 1 m mantle length (ML)) oceanic squid displaying a high degree of morphological diversity. All members of the family have the mantle fused to the head in the nuchal region and to the funnel at its two posterior lateral corners.

The 13 currently recognised genera are divided between two subfamilies, Cranchiinae Prosch, 1849 and Taoniinae Pfeffer, 1912. Cranchiines are characterised by the presence of one or two cartilaginous strips extending posteriorly from the anterior apex of the funnel-mantle fusions and the fusion of the funnel to the head laterally; four or more small round or oval photophores are present on the eyes, and the right or left ventral arms are hectocotylised in mature males. Taoniines lack cartilaginous strips and the funnel is free from the head laterally; one to three dissimilar-sized crescent-shaped light organs are present on the eyes and hectocotylisation is absent. Secondary sexual modification of the ends of the arms in mature males, and development of brachial end-organs on the arms of mature females, may be present in both subfamilies.

Cranchiids were first recorded from eastern Australian waters by Allan (1940, 1945) with 'Pyrgopsis pacificus Issel, 1908' (probably Leachia sp.) the most numerous cephalopod in her plankton collections. Brandt (1983) recorded at least five cranchiid species from both subfamilies from a warm-core eddy of the East Australian Current. Lu & Phillips (1985) list at least 13 species and species groups from off the east coast.

Taxonomic confusion in the family was partially a consequence of the major morphological changes that accompany growth in many cranchiids. The confusion has been resolved partially by the work of N. Voss (1980, 1985). Early larval characters such as stalked eyes and paddle-shaped fins are lost or modified at varying stages during growth in each genus (Clarke 1966; N. Voss 1980, 1985; Rodhouse & Clarke 1986). Where known, the cranchiid reproductive systems show typical oegopsid characteristics with the exception of the four nidamental glands reported by G. Voss (1962) for a female of Ascocranchia joubini from the North Atlantic. Females have no spermathecae. In Teuthowenia pellucida (Chun), a species abundant in eastern Australian waters, spermatophores are embedded externally on the anterior half of the mantle, either dorsally or ventrally. The sperm reservoirs penetrate the inner wall and release sperm into the mantle cavity where, apparently, fertilisation of mature eggs occurs as they leave the oviducal glands. The presence of large swollen nidamental glands in mature females suggests that the eggs are deposited in one or more gelatinous egg masses. An estimated 6000 to 8000 eggs of 3.0 mm maximum length were carried by two mature female T. pellucida of 177 and 187 mm ML (N. Voss 1985).

Little is known on the life history of cranchiids. Available information on Teuthowenia megalops (Prosch) from the North Atlantic was reviewed by Nixon (1983). N. Voss (1985) concluded that female T. pellucida probably shed all their eggs over a short period and do not survive beyond one spawning period. Males may mate more than once, but like the females, do not survive past one limited mating season. No information on the life span and growth rates of any cranchiid species is available currently. Cranchiids form a minor part of the diet of sperm whales off south-western Australia and in the Tasman Sea (Clarke 1980; Clarke & MacLeod 1982) and are also components of the diets of lancetfish and yellowfin tuna from the Coral Sea and north-eastern Indian Ocean (Rancurel 1970, 1976; Fujita & Hattori 1976); they are also eaten by seabirds (Imber 1978), blue sharks (Clarke & Stevens 1974), albacore tuna and dolphins (Clarke 1966).

Cranchiids show ontogenetic descent. The smallest larvae of Teuthowenia pellucida are more abundant in the upper 600 m, while those metamorphosing to the subadult stage are predominant at depths of 700 to 800 m. Adults generally occur below 500 m and as deep as 2400 m. Mature T. pellucida have only been caught in water depths of more than 3800 m (N. Voss 1985). Off Hawaii Leachia pacifica (Issel, 1908) lives in near-surface waters until it reaches about 80% of its maximum length; both males and females then descend to depths up to 2300 m where they mature, mate and then, apparently, spawn (Young 1975). Diel vertical migration of larval or adult cranchiids has not been demonstrated conclusively beyond Australia (Roper & Young 1975; Young 1975).

Cranchiids are among the most speciose and abundant of oegopsid squid and occur in all oceans from the surface to depths in excess of 3500 m. Of the 13 genera recognised by N. Voss (1980), all are known from Australian waters although none is endemic. The distribution of most species in Australian waters is poorly known. N. Voss (1985) concluded that Teuthowenia pellucida is distributed circumglobally in the mixed waters of the Subtropical Convergence, its local occurrence affected by surface winds, currents and bottom depth.

An Australian specimen of Teuthowenia pellucida was included in the molecular study of Fernández-Álvares et al. (2022).

Diagnosis

The family is characterised by having the mantle fused to the head in the nuchal region and to the funnel at its two posterior lateral corners. The arms generally bear biserial, sharp-toothed suckers, and the armature of the tentacular clubs (suckers, hooks or hook-like suckers) is generally quadriserial. Buccal connectives attach to the ventral borders of the ventral arms and photophores are present on the eyes and on the arm tips in some species.

General References

Allan, J. 1940. A rare stalk-eyed squid (Bathothauma lyromma Chun) new to Australian waters. Records of the Australian Museum 20: 320-324

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

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. & MacLeod, N. 1982. Cephalopod remains from the stomachs of sperm whales caught in the Tasman Sea. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 43: 25-42

Clarke, M.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1974. Cephalopods, blue sharks and migration. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 54: 949-957

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

Imber, M.J. 1978. The squid families Cranchiidae and Gonatidae (Cephalopoda: Teuthoidea) in the New Zealand region. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 5: 445-484

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

Nixon, M. 1983. Teuthowenia megalops. pp. 233-247 in Boyle, P.R. (ed.). Cephalopod Life Cycles. Vol. 1. Species Accounts. London : Academic Press xvii 474 pp.

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

Rancurel, P. 1976. Note sur les Céphalopodes des contenus stomacaux de Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) dans le Sud-ouest Pacifique. Cahiers O.R.S.T.O.M. Serie Océanographique 14(1): 71-80

Rodhouse, P.G. & Clarke, M.R. 1986. Growth and distribution of young Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson (Mollusca, Cephalopoda), and Antarctic squid. Vie et Milieu 35(3/4): 223 -230

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

Voss, G.L. 1962. Ascocranchia joubini, a new genus and species of cranchiid squid from the North Atlantic. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique Monaco 1242: 1-6

Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412

Voss, N.A. 1985. Systematics, biology and biogeography of the Cranchiid cephalopod genus Teuthowenia (Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 36: 1-85

Young, R.E. 1975. Leachia pacifica (Cephalopoda, Teuthoidea): Spawning habitat and function of the brachial photophores. Pacific Science 29(1): 19-25

History of changes

• Cranchiinae 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.

  Type genus:

   Cranchia Leach, 1817.

History of changes

• Cranchia Leach, W.E. 1817. Synopsis of the orders, families and genera of the class Cephalopoda. Zoological Miscellany 3: 137-141 [140].

  Type species:

   Cranchia scabra Leach, 1817 by subsequent designation, see Steenstrup, J.J. 1861. Overblik over de i Kjøbenhavns Museer opbevarede Blaeksprutter fra det aabne Hav (1860–1861). Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1861: 69-86.

  Secondary source:

   Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Cranchia scabra Leach, W.E. 1817. Synopsis of the orders, families and genera of the class Cephalopoda. Zoological Miscellany 3: 137-141 [140].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1986265, locality unknown.
• Cranchia tenuitentaculata Pfeffer, G. 1884. Die Cephalopoden des Hamburger Naturhistorischen Museums. Abhandlungen Herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein zu Bremen 8: 63-90 3 pls [86].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.
• Cranchia hispida Pfeffer, G. 1884. Die Cephalopoden des Hamburger Naturhistorischen Museums. Abhandlungen Herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein zu Bremen 8: 63-90 3 pls [89].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Young, R.E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the seas off southern California. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 97: 1-159 [78]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: bathypelagic.

Paralarva: epipelagic.

Migratory, oceanic, subtropical, tropical.

General References

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

Dilly, P.N. & Dixon, M. 1976. The dermal tubercles of Cranchia scabra (Mollusca, Cephalopoda)—surface structure and development. Journal of Zoology, London 179: 291-295

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 (Australian distribution)

Young, R.E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the seas off southern California. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 97: 1-159

History of changes

• Leachia Lesueur, C.A. 1821. Descriptions of several new species of cuttlefish. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2: 86-101 [90].

  Type species:

   Leachia cycluria Lesueur, 1821 by monotypy.

  Secondary source:

   Blainville, H. de 1823. Mémoire sur les espèces du genre Calmar (Loligo, Lamarck). Journal de Physique de Chimie et d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris 96: 116-135.
• Perothis Rathke, H. 1835. Perothis, eine neues genus der cephalopoden. Mémoires de l'Academie Imperial de la Société des Sciences, Saint Pétersburg 2: 149-176 2 pls [149].

  Type species:

   Perothis eschscholtzii Rathke, 1835 by subsequent designation, see Hoyle, W.E. 1910. A list of the generic names of dibranchiate Cephalopoda, with their type species. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft 32: 407-413 [411].
• Dyctydiopsis Rochebrune, A.T. 1884. Etude monographique de la famille des Loligopsidae. Bulletin de la Société Philomathique de Paris 7 8: 7-28 pls 1, 2 [10].

  Type species:

   Dyctydiopsis ellipsoptera Rochebrune, 1884 by monotypy.
• Pyrgopsis Rochebrune, A.T. 1884. Etude monographique de la famille des Loligopsidae. Bulletin de la Société Philomathique de Paris 7 8: 7-28 pls 1, 2 [23].

  Type species:

   Pyrgopsis rhynchophorus Rochebrune, 1884 by monotypy.
• Drechselia Joubin, L. 1931. Notes préliminaires sur les Céphalopodes des croisières du Dana (1921–22). 3e Partie. Annales de l'Institut Océanographie, Monaco & Paris 10: 169-211 [197] [non Leachia Lesueur, 1821].

  Type species:

   Drechselia danae Joubin, 1931 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [380]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Tasmania Province (10), 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), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Leachia cyclura Lesueur, C.A. 1821. Descriptions of several new species of cuttlefish. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2: 86-101.

  Type data:

   Holotype ANSP (Type no longer extant. "This description is taken from a drawing made by Mr. Petit, from a specimen obtained in the Pacific Ocean, in lat. 37° South, and long. 33° East." The latitude and longitude given in the original description is in the Indian Ocean side of South Africa,), "Inhabits Pacific Ocean".
• Loligo leachii Blainville, H. de 1823. Mémoire sur les espèces du genre Calmar (Loligo, Lamarck). Journal de Physique de Chimie et d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris 96: 116-135.

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHNP (Type no longer extant.).
• Loligopsis guttata Grant, R.E. 1833. On the structure and characters of Loligopsis, and account of a new species (Lol. guttata Grant) from the Indian Seas. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 1: 21-28.

  Type data:

   Holotype (Zoological Museum, University of London?), Indian Ocean.
• Perothis eschscholtzii Rathke, H. 1833. Perothis, ein neues genus der Cephalopoden. Mémoires Préséntés à l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Petersbourg par divers Savants et dans ses Assemblées 2 1/2: 149-175.

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMB Moll.-110053 (One of 3 syntypes at ZMB.), SE of Madagascar [28°S, 50°E].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Tropical and southern subtropical Indo-West Pacific oceanic waters.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), 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), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Zygaenopsis pacifica Issel, R. 1908. Molluschi. 1. Cefalopodi planctonici. Raccolte planctoniche fatte dalla R. Nave Liguria. Pubblicazioni del R. Istituto di Studi Superiori Pratici e di Perfezionamento in Firenze 1: 201-243 56 figs [223].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown, (between Tahiti and Pango-Pango) [14°32'15''S 167°43'W].

  Secondary source:

   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.

Generic Combinations

• Leachia pacifica (Issel, 1908).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: nectonic.

Paralarva: planktonic.

Continental shelf, continental slope, 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

History of changes

• Liocranchia Pfeffer, G. 1884. Die Cephalopoden des Hamburger Naturhistorischen Museums. Abhandlungen Herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein zu Bremen 8: 63-90 3 pls [85].

  Type species:

   Leachia reinhardti Steenstrup, 1856 by subsequent designation, see Pfeffer, G. 1884. Die Cephalopoden des Hamburger Naturhistorischen Museums. Abhandlungen Herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein zu Bremen 8: 63-90 3 pls.

  Secondary source:

   Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412.
• Fusocranchia Joubin, L. 1920. Céphalopodes provenant des campagnes de la Princesse-Alice (1898–1910). Résultats des Campagnes Scientifiques accomplies par le Prince Albert I. Monaco 54: 1-95 16 pls [73].

  Type species:

   Fusocranchia alpha Joubin, 1920 by monotypy.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [378]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

History of changes

• Leachia reinhardtii Steenstrup, J.J. 1856. Hectocotydannelsen hos Octopods laegterne Argonauta og Tremoctopus, oplyst ved lagttageke af Dannelsen hos Blaeksprutterne i Alminddelighed. Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs. Skrifter 5 4: 187-216 2 pls [200].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMC 2♀ 1 sex unknown, Atlantic Ocean [15º19'N 24º54'W and 23ºN 32ºW].

  Type locality references:

  Steenstrup, J.J. 1861. Overblik over de i Kjøbenhavns Museer opbevarede Blaeksprutter fra det aabne Hav (1860–1861). Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1861: 69-86.
• Liocranchia brockii Pfeffer, G. 1884. Die Cephalopoden des Hamburger Naturhistorischen Museums. Abhandlungen Herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein zu Bremen 8: 63-90 3 pls [85].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown, Java Sea.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Sasaki, M. 1915. On three interesting new oegopsids from the Bay of Sagami. Journal of the College of Agriculture, Tohoku Imperial University, Sapporo 6: 131-150 [132]

Generic Combinations

• Liocranchia reinhardti (Steenstrup, 1856).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: nectonic.

Paralarva: planktonic.

Epipelagic, mesopelagic, temperate, tropical.

General References

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

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 (Australian distribution)

Voss, G.L. 1963. Cephalopods of the Philippine Islands. United States National Museum Bulletin 234: 1-180 (vertical distribution)

History of changes

• Liocranchia valdiviae Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [84].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) ZMB ♂ (Valdivia Stn 182), 10º8'S 97º14'E; 4º5'S 23º24'E; 4º5'S 70º1'E; 4º45'S 45º58'E; 5º42'S 43º36'E; 2º58'N 46º50'E (Indian Ocean); ZMB juv. (Valdivia Stn 221), 10º8'S 97º14'E; 4º5'S 23º24'E; 4º5'S 70º1'E; 4º45'S 45º58'E; 5º42'S 43º36'E; 2º58'N 46º50'E (Indian Ocean); ZMB juv. (Valdivia Stn 226), 10º8'S 97º14'E; 4º5'S 23º24'E; 4º5'S 70º1'E; 4º45'S 45º58'E; 5º42'S 43º36'E; 2º58'N 46º50'E (Indian Ocean); ZMB ♀ (Valdivia Stn 237), 10º8'S 97º14'E; 4º5'S 23º24'E; 4º5'S 70º1'E; 4º45'S 45º58'E; 5º42'S 43º36'E; 2º58'N 46º50'E (Indian Ocean); ZMB ♂ (Valdivia Stn 239), 10º8'S 97º14'E; 4º5'S 23º24'E; 4º5'S 70º1'E; 4º45'S 45º58'E; 5º42'S 43º36'E; 2º58'N 46º50'E (Indian Ocean); ZMB ♂ (Valdivia Stn 258), 10º8'S 97º14'E; 4º5'S 23º24'E; 4º5'S 70º1'E; 4º45'S 45º58'E; 5º42'S 43º36'E; 2º58'N 46º50'E (Indian Ocean).

  Type locality references:

  Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden 1. Teil: Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer "Valdivia" 1898–1899 18: 1-542.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: mesopelagic.

Paralarva: mesopelagic.

Extra Ecological Information

Paralarva in upper mesopelagic, adult in lower mesopelagic.

General References

Clarke, M.R. 1966. A review of the systematics and ecology of oceanic squids. Advances in Marine Biology 4: 91-300 [221]

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 (Australian distribution)

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

History of changes

• Taoniinae Pfeffer, 1912.

History of changes

• Bathothauma Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [86].

  Type species:

   Bathothauma lyromma Chun, 1906 by monotypy.
• Leucocranchia Joubin, L. 1912. Sur les Céphalopodes capturés en 1911 par SAS le Prince de Monaco. Note de M.L. Joubin. Comptes Rendus (Hebdomadaires) des Séances de l'Academie des Sciences. Série D. Sciences Naturelles 154: 395-397 [397].

  Type species:

   Leucocranchia pfefferi Joubin, 1912 by monotypy.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [384]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Bathothauma lyromma Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [86].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMB ♀ subadult (Antarctic Exped.), Guinea Current, west of Cape Verde (north Atlantic Ocean).

  Type locality references:

  Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden 1. Teil: Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer "Valdivia" 1898–1899 18: 1-542.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: mesopelagic.

Paralarva: epipelagic.

Continental slope, oceanic, subantarctic, temperate, tropical.

General References

Riddell, D.J. 1985. The Enoploteuthidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) of the New Zealand region. New Zealand Fisheries Research Bulletin 27: 1-52 (Australian distribution)

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

History of changes

• Egea Joubin 1933. Notes preliminaires sur les Cephalopodes des croisieres du DANA (1921-1922), 4e Partie. Annales de l'Institut Oceanographiques 31(1): 1-49.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Egea inermis Joubin 1933. Notes preliminaires sur les Cephalopodes des croisieres du DANA (1921-1922), 4e Partie. Annales de l'Institut Oceanographiques 31(1): 1-49.

  Type data:

   Lectotype CEP-000102, Atlantic Ocean [33°51′N, 66°43′W].

  Subsequent designation references:

  Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412.
• Phasmatopsis lucifer Voss, G.L. 1963. A new species of cranchiid squid, Phasmatopsis lucifer from the Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine Science of the Gulf and Caribbean 13(1): 77-83.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss 1974. Studies on the cephalopod family Cranchiidae, a redescription of Egea inermis Joubin, 1933. Bulletin of Marine Science, University Miami 24(4): 939-956

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Circumglobal in equatorial, troipical to subtropical waters (35°N to 42°N, to 25°S), in the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Galiteuthis Joubin, L. 1898. Note sur une nouvelle famille des céphalopodes. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Paris sér. 8 6: 279-292 [279].

  Type species:

   Galiteuthis armata Joubin, 1898 by monotypy.
• Taonidium Pfeffer, G. 1900. Synopsis der Oegopsiden Cephalopoden. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten 17: 145-198 [192].

  Type species:

   Taonius suhmi Hoyle, 1886 by monotypy.
• Crystalloteuthis Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [85].

  Type species:

   Crystalloteuthis glacialis Chun, 1906 by monotypy.
• Phasmatoteuthion 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 [728].

  Type species:

   Taonius richardi Joubin, 1895 by monotypy.
• Cristalloteuthis Naef, A. 1921. Die Cephalopoden. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 35(1): 1-148 [49] [incorrect subsequent spelling of Crystalloteuthis].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [392]

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Circu- Antarctic to Subarctic waters.

IMCRA

Central Eastern Province (12)

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

History of changes

• Galiteuthis glacialis Chun, 1906.
• Crystalloteuthis glacialis Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [85].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, locality unknown.

Generic Combinations

• Galiteuthis glacialis (Chun, 1906).

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Circumpolar Antarctica, in Aust. Antarctica Terr. only confirmed from Prydz Bay, Antarctica .

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

General References

McSweeny, E.S. 1978. Systematics and morphology of the Antarctic squid Galiteuthis glacialis (Chun). Antarctic Research Series 27: 1-39

History of changes

• Taonius suhmi Hoyle, W.E. 1886. Report on the Cephalopoda collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 16(44): 1-245 pls 1-33.

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) NMGC Z.1978.041.00021 (station 159) and Z.1978.041.00434 (Sydney to Wellington), NSW, Sydney to New Zealand, Wellington. [47°25′S, 130°22′E]; BMNH 1890.1.24.19, off coast of Africa.

  Type locality references:

  Lipinski, M.R., Naggs, F.A. & Roeleveld, M.A. 2000. Catalogue of types of Recent cephalopods in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. Annales Zoologici, Warszawa 50 1: 101-120.

Generic Combinations

• Galiteuthis suhmi (Hoyle, 1886). —
  Roper, C.F.E. & Jereb, P. 2010. Family Cranchiidae. pp. 148-178 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. [166]

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Southern subtropical to sub-Antarctic circumglobal waters.

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

History of changes

• Procalistes suhmii Lankester, E.R. 1884. On Procalistes, a young cephalopod with pedunculate eyes, taken by the Challenger Expedition. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 24: 311-318 2 figs [311].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 90.1.24.20–22 juv., (Tasman Sea) [34°50'S 155°28'E].

Generic Combinations

• Taonius suhmii (Lankester, 1884).
• Galiteuthis suhmii (Lankester, 1884).

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Central Eastern Province (12)

Ecological Descriptors

Juvenile: oceanic.

General References

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

Lankester, E.R. 1884. On Procalistes, a young cephalopod with pedunculate eyes, taken by the Challenger Expedition. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 24: 311-318 2 figs

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 (Australian distribution)

History of changes

• Helicocranchia Massy, A.L. 1907. Preliminary notice of new and remarkable cephalopods from the south west coast of Ireland. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 7 20: 377-384 [382].

  Type species:

   Helicocranchia pfefferi Massy, 1907 by monotypy.
• Ascocranchia Voss, G.L. 1962. Ascocranchia joubini, a new genus and species of cranchiid squid from the North Atlantic. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique Monaco 1242: 1-6 [1].

  Type species:

   Ascocranchia joubini G.L. Voss, 1962 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Helicocranchia pfefferi Massy, A.L. 1907. Preliminary notice of new and remarkable cephalopods from the south west coast of Ireland. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 7 20: 377-384 [382].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1909.11.27.10, (south-west coast of Ireland) [51°54'N 11°57'W].

  Type locality references:

  Massy, A.L. 1909. The Cephalopoda Dibranchiata of the coasts of Ireland. Scientific Investigations, Fisheries Branch, Ireland 1907 1: 3-39 pls 1-3.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: mesopelagic.

Paralarva: mesopelagic.

Extra Ecological Information

Larva in upper mesopelagic, adult in lower mesopelagic.

General References

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

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 (Australian distribution)

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

History of changes

• Liguriella Issel, R. 1908. Molluschi. 1. Cefalopodi planctonici. Raccolte planctoniche fatte dalla R. Nave Liguria. Pubblicazioni del R. Istituto di Studi Superiori Pratici e di Perfezionamento in Firenze 1: 201-243 56 figs.

  Type species:

   Liguriella podophthalma Issel, 1908 by original designation, see Issel, R. 1908. Molluschi. 1. Cefalopodi planctonici. Raccolte planctoniche fatte dalla R. Nave Liguria. Pubblicazioni del R. Istituto di Studi Superiori Pratici e di Perfezionamento in Firenze 1: 201-243 56 figs.
• Vossoteuthis Nesis, K.N. 1974. A revision of the squid genera Corynoma, Megalocranchia, Sandalvps and Liyuriella (Oegopsida, Cranchiidae). Trudy Instituta Okeanologii. Akademiya Nauk SSSR. Moskva 96: 5-22.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Tasmania Province (10), 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), Macquarie Island Province (24), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

History of changes

• Liguriella podophthalma Issel, R. 1908. Molluschi. 1. Cefalopodi planctonici. Raccolte planctoniche fatte dalla R. Nave Liguria. Pubblicazioni del R. Istituto di Studi Superiori Pratici e di Perfezionamento in Firenze 1: 201-243 56 figs.

  Type data:

   Holotype (Holotype, location unknown, ?MZUF, Museo Zoologico de la Specola, Universitadi Firenze, Via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy.), Atlantic Ocean, [Liguria station 10] [28°38′S, 47°31′W].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Occurs circumglobally in tropical, subtropical and northern sub-Antarctic waters.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Tasmania Province (10), 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), Macquarie Island Province (24), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Megalocranchia Pfeffer, G. 1884. Die Cephalopoden des Hamburger Naturhistorischen Museums. Abhandlungen Herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein zu Bremen 8: 63-90 3 pls [84].

  Type species:

   Megalocranchia maxima Pfeffer, 1884 by monotypy.
• Corynomma Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [85].

  Type species:

   Corynomma speculator Chun, 1906 by monotypy.
• Xenoteuthis Berry, S.S. 1909. Diagnoses of new cephalopods from the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 37: 407-419 [419] [error in Berry's paper: his species, Helicocranchia fisheri, appears in faunal list as Xenoteuthis Berry].
• Ascoteuthis Berry, S.S. 1920. Preliminary diagnoses of new cephalopods from the Western Atlantic. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 58: 293-300 pl. 16 [295] [first introduced as subgenus of Teuthowenia Chun, 1910].

  Type species:

   Teuthowenia (Ascoteuthis) corona Berry, 1920 by original designation.
• Carynoteuthis Voss, G.L. 1960. Bermudan cephalopods. Fieldiana Zoology 39: 419-446 [434].

  Type species:

   Carynoteuthis oceanica G.L. Voss, 1960 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [398]

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

CRANCHIIDAE: Megalocranchia megalops Prosch, 1849 — Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Taonius abyssicola Goodrich, E.S. 1896. Report on a collection of Cephalopoda from the Calcutta Museum. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 2)(Zool. 7: 1-24 [17].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) IM, Laccadive Sea.
• Helicocranchia fisheri Berry, S.S. 1909. Diagnoses of new cephalopods from the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 37: 407-419 [417].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Nesis, K.N. 1974. A revision of the squid genera Corynoma, Megalocranchia, Sandalvps and Liyuriella (Oegopsida, Cranchiidae). Trudy Instituta Okeanologii. Akademiya Nauk SSSR. Moskva 96: 5-22 [6]

Generic Combinations

• Megalocranchia abyssicola (Goodrich, 1896).

Introduction

Taxon inquirendum.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: mesobathypelagic, tropical.

Paralarva: epipelagic.

General References

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 (Australian distribution): Nesis, K.N. 1974. A revision of the squid genera Corynoma, Megalocranchia, Sandalvps and Liyuriella (Oegopsida, Cranchiidae). Trudy Instituta Okeanologii, Akademiya Nauk SSSR 96: 5–22 (distribution)

History of changes

• Mesonychoteuthis Robson, 1925. On Mesonychoteuthis, a new genus of oegopsid Cephalopoda. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 16: 272-277 [272].

  Type species:

   Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925 by original designation.

Distribution

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

General References

Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [394]

History of changes

• Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925. On Mesonychoteuthis, a new genus of oegopsid Cephalopoda. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 16: 272-277 [272].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH, S Shetland Ils.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Circumpolar Antarctica, in Aust. Antarctica Terr. only confirmed from Prydz Bay, Antarctica.

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

Ecological Descriptors

0–4000 m, adults concentrated 2000–4000 m.

General References

McSweeny, E.S. 1970. Description of the juvenile form of the Antarctic squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson. Malacologia 10(2): 323-332

Common Name References

CephBase 2000. [Internet database of world cephalopods]. www.cephbase.dal.ca/. (Antarctic Cranch Squid)

History of changes

• Sandalops Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [86].

  Type species:

   Sandalops melancholicus Chun, 1906 by monotypy.
• Uranoteuthis Lu, C.C. & Clarke, M.R. 1974. Two new species of cranchid cephalopod from the North Atlantic, Uranoteuthis bilucifer n. gen. s. sp. and Galiteuthis triluminosa n. sp. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 54: 985-994 [985].

  Type species:

   Uranoteuthis bilucifer Lu & Clarke, 1974 by monotypy.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [386]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Sandalops melancholicus Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [86].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMB 2 juv. (Antarctic Exped.), north-east of Tristan da Cunha [32°8'S 8º28'W].

  Secondary source:

   Clarke, M.R. 1966. A review of the systematics and ecology of oceanic squids. Advances in Marine Biology 4: 91-300.
• Uranoteuthis bilucifer Lu, C.C. & Clarke, M.R. 1974. Two new species of cranchid cephalopod from the North Atlantic, Uranoteuthis bilucifer n. gen. s. sp. and Galiteuthis triluminosa n. sp. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 54: 985-994 [985].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH, Atlantic Ocean, Cape Verde Basin.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [386]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Ecological Descriptors

Bathypelagic, mesopelagic, oceanic, temperate.

General References

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

Lu, C.C. & Clarke, M.R. 1974. Two new species of cranchid cephalopod from the North Atlantic, Uranoteuthis bilucifer n. gen. s. sp. and Galiteuthis triluminosa n. sp. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 54: 985-994 (distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

History of changes

• Teuthowenia Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden 1. Teil: Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer "Valdivia" 1898–1899 18: 1-542 [376] [nom. nov. for Owenia Prosch, 1849].

  Secondary source:

   Voss, N.A. 1985. Systematics, biology and biogeography of the Cranchiid cephalopod genus Teuthowenia (Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 36: 1-85.
• Owenia Prosch, V. 1847. Nogle nye Cephalopoder. Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes. Selskabs Skrifter. Kjøbenhavn 5 1: 53-72 [71] [name first introduced as a subgenus of Cranchia Leach, 1817; junior homonym of Owenia Chiaje, 1844 (Polychaeta)].

  Type species:

   Cranchia megalops Prosch, 1847 by monotypy.
• Anomalocranchia Robson, C.W. 1924. Preliminary report on the Cephalopoda (Decapoda) procured by the S.S. Pickle. Report. Fisheries & Marine Biological Survey, Union of South Africa 3: 1-14 [9].

  Type species:

   Anomalocranchia impennis Robson, 1924 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [400]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Desmoteuthis pellucida Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden 1. Teil: Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer "Valdivia" 1898–1899 18: 1-542 [357].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMB ♀ juv. (Valdivia Stn 90), (Benguela Current, Atlantic Ocean) [33°20'S 15°58'E].

  Secondary source:

   Voss, N.A. 1985. Systematics, biology and biogeography of the Cranchiid cephalopod genus Teuthowenia (Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 36: 1-85.
• Megalocranchia pardus Berry, S.S. 1916. Cephalopoda of the Kermadec Islands. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 68: 45-66 pls 6-9 [61].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown S.S.B. 415, Kermadec Islands.
• Anomalocranchia impennis Robson, C.W. 1924. Preliminary report on the Cephalopoda (Decapoda) procured by the S.S. Pickle. Report. Fisheries & Marine Biological Survey, Union of South Africa 3: 1-14 [8].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.
• Megalocranchia richardsoni Dell, R.K. 1959. Some additional New Zealand cephalopods from Cook Strait. Zoological Publications of the Victoria University, Wellington 25: 1-12 [10].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.
• Megalocranchia megalops australis Voss, G.L. 1967. Some bathypelagic cephalopods from South African waters. Annals of the South African Museum 50: 61-88 [82].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.
• Teuthowenia megalops impennis Imber, M.J. 1978. The squid families Cranchiidae and Gonatidae (Cephalopoda: Teuthoidea) in the New Zealand region. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 5: 445-484 [471].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1985. Systematics, biology and biogeography of the Cranchiid cephalopod genus Teuthowenia (Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 36: 1-85 [41]

Generic Combinations

• Teuthowenia pellucida (Chun, 1910).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: bathypelagic, nectonic.

Paralarva: epipelagic, mesopelagic.

Continental shelf, continental slope, migratory, predator, temperate.

General References

Voss, N.A. 1985. Systematics, biology and biogeography of the Cranchiid cephalopod genus Teuthowenia (Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 36: 1-85

History of changes

• Taonius Steenstrup, J.J. 1861. Overblik over de i Kjøbenhavns Museer opbevarede Blaeksprutter fra det aabne Hav (1860–1861). Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1861: 69-86 [84].

  Type species:

   Loligo pavo Lesueur, 1821 by original designation.

  Secondary source:

   Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412.
• Desmoteuthis Verrill, A.E. 1881. The cephalopods of the north-eastern coast of America, Part II. The smaller cephalopods, including the "squids" and the octopi, with other allied forms. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences 5: 259-446 [300] [erroneous identification of Teuthowenia megalops (Prosch, 1849)].

  Type species (included species):

   Desmoteuthis tenera Verrill, 1881; Leachia hyperborea Steenstrup, 1856
• Toxeuma Chun, C. 1906. System der Cranchien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 31: 82-86 [86] [junior homonym of Toxeuma Walker, 1833 (Insecta)].

  Type species:

   Toxeuma belone Chun, 1906 by monotypy.
• Verrilliteuthis Berry, S.S. 1916. Cephalopoda of the Kermadec Islands. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 68: 45-66 pls 6-9 [64] [nom. nov. for Desmoteuthis Verrill, 1881].
• Belonella Lane, F.W. 1957. Kingdom of the Octopus. London : Jarrolds 287 pp. 48 pls. [220] [nom. nov. for Toxeuma Chun, 1906].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, N.A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). Bulletin of Marine Science 30: 365-412 [390]

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

Distribution References

History of changes

• OMMASTREPHIDAE Steenstrup, J.J. 1857. Oplysning om en ny Art af Blaeksprutter, Dosidicus Eschrichtii Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger. Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1857(1/2): 11-14.

  Type genus:

   Ommastrephes d'Orbigny, 1834.
• OMMATOSTREPHIDAE Steenstrup, J.J. 1857. Oplysning om en ny Art af Blaeksprutter, Dosidicus Eschrichtii Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger. Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1857(1/2): 11-14.

  Type genus:

   Ommastrephes d'Orbigny, 1835.

Introduction

Squid of the family Ommastrephidae Steenstrup, 1857 are medium to large sized (more than 500 mm mantle length (ML)), with a strong muscular torpedo-shaped mantle. Three subfamilies, Ommastrephinae, Todarodinae and Illicinae, are recognised on the basis of the presence and structure of some skin folds (the foveola and side pockets) in the funnel groove. Twenty-one species and one subspecies are known worldwide. Thirteen species, belonging to all subfamilies, are represented in Australian waters (Lu & Dunning 1982; Lu & Phillips 1985).

McCoy described Ommastrephes gouldi, the first ommastrephid from Australian waters, in 1888. Brazier (1892) listed two additional species, O. gigas d'Orbigny and O. oualaniensis Lesson, the first of which was a misidentification as the species occurs only in the eastern Pacific. Nesis (1979) provided records of additional species from the Australasian region. The most recent checklist of Australian ommastrephids is that of Lu & Phillips (1985).

Nototodarus Pfeffer, Todaropsis Girard and Todarodes Steenstrup typically display a dark, narrow mid-dorsal stripe on the mantle, replaced in oceanic species by a general darkening of the dorsal surface. Large light organs, either oval or as stripes, are present in Sthenoteuthis Verrill, Eucleoteuthis Berry and Hyaloteuthis Gray, ventrally or dorsally on the mantle and/or ventrally on the head and bases of the ventral arms. Juveniles of these species have oval light organs ventrally on the eyes and between the ink sac and intestine (Dunning 1985). Adult Ornithoteuthis Okada have an additional luminous stripe mid-ventrally along the viscera. In Ommastrephes d'Orbigny, small subcutaneous light organs are distributed ventrally on the mantle and head (Lu & Dunning 1982).

All ommastrephids are active predators, grasping their prey with the arms and tentacles which bear suckers carrying sharp, strongly developed conical teeth on the chitinous sucker rings, and dividing the victim using the heavily chitinised beaks. All species in Australian waters have buccal seminal receptacles for storage of sperm bulbs during copulation. The presence of sperm bulbs in the spermathecae of immature females of several species suggests that copulation may precede spawning by some time in this group. The family has a distinct larval form, the rhynchoteuthion, characterised by fusion of the tentacles until a size of 5–10 mm ML is reached, when separation occurs.

From examination of population size structure, it appears probable that most species in Australian waters reach reproductive maturity at less than two years of age, reproduce for a single season only and die. In some species, males mature at considerably smaller sizes than females. Spawning locations are unknown although larvae have not been found beyond continental shelf/slope waters.

Members of this family occupy all major marine habitats on the tropical and temperate continental shelf, continental slope and in oceanic waters. They feed on a broad range of crustaceans, fish, other pelagic molluscs and squids, and are at least partially cannibalistic (O'Sullivan & Cullen 1983). Known predators include seabirds, teleosts and sharks, whales, dolphins and seals (Dunning & Brandt 1985). Ommastrephids are schooling species, school size decreasing as the animal grows. Evidence from commercial fishing operations suggests that neritic species congregate close to the bottom during the day, moving up through the water column at night. Oceanic species have been seen feeding at the surface at night—large Ommastrephes have been observed hunting, perhaps cooperatively, for prey. Juveniles of several species are able to glide, like exocoetid flying fish, for distances in excess of 10 m, to escape predators. There is evidence for long distance migrations elsewhere in the world by Ommastrephes associated with spawning (Dunning & Brandt 1985), and perhaps on a smaller scale for Nototodarus in southern Australian (H. Smith 1983) and New Zealand waters (Sato 1985).

With the exception of polar waters, ommastrephid squid occur in all oceans. Significant distributional overlap occurs for many species, particularly in East Australian Current waters where juveniles of up to five genera have been taken in the same trawl catch (Dunning & Brandt 1985). Todarodes pacificus pucillus Dunning, 1988 occurs in continental shelf waters north of 27°S. The genus Nototodarus is represented in northern slope waters by N. hawaiiensis (Berry) and in shelf waters south of 25°S by N. gouldi. The distribution of the former species overlaps with that of the less abundant Todaropsis eblanae (Ball). Ornithoteuthis volatilis (Sasaki) is commonly caught in trawl catches from slope waters between 18° and 35°S. Occasionally the Subantarctic shelf species, Martialia hyadesi Rochebrune & Mabille, has been found stranded on the beach after storms at Macquarie Island, sometimes in large numbers. Dunning (1988) reviewed the distribution of arrow squids off eastern Australia.

Hyaloteuthis pelagica (Bosc) occurs in tropical and Eucleoteuthis luminosa (Sasaki) in subtropical oceanic waters off the east coast. Ommastrephes bartrami is the dominant ommastrephid in the south-eastern Indian Ocean and Tasman Sea north of 40°S, replaced to the south by Todarodes filippovae Adam. This species is also caught in continental slope waters around the southern Australian coast.

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

OMMASTREPHIDAE: Dosidicus gigas Brazier, 1892 — 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 [31]

OMMASTREPHIDAE: Dosidicus Steenstrup, 1857

Diagnosis

The family is characterised by an inverted T-shaped funnel locking cartilage, biserial suckers on the arms and, in all Australian representatives, tetraserial suckers on the tentacular clubs. The buccal connectives attach to the dorsal border of the ventral arms and light organs are present in some genera. One or both ventral arms in males are hectocotylised.

General References

Brazier, J. 1892. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania. Pt I. Cephalopoda; Pt II. Pteropoda. Sydney : Australian Museum Catalogue Vol. 15 42 pp.

Dunning, M. & Brandt, S.B. 1985. Distribution and life history of deep-water squid of commercial interest from Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 343-359

Dunning, M.C. 1985. General patterns in the summer distribution of early juvenile ommastrephid squid off eastern Australia (Mollusca, Cephalopoda). Vie et Milieu 35: 163-168

Dunning, M.C. 1998. Zoogeography of arrow squids (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in the Coral and Tasman Seas, southwest Pacific. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 586: 435-453

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30

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

McCoy, F. 1888. Ommastrephes gouldi (McCoy). Gould's Squid. Prodromus of the zoology of Victoria, or figures and descriptions of the living species of the Victorian indigenous animals 2. Decade 17: 255-257 pls 169, 170

Nesis, K.N. 1979. Squids of the family Ommastrephidae in the Australian-New Zealand region. pp. 140–146 in, Nekton and Ichthyoplankton of the Australian-New Zealand Region. Moscow : Nauka.

O'Sullivan, D. & Cullen, J.M. 1983. Food of the squid Nototodarus gouldi in the Bass Strait. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 34: 261-285

Sato, T. 1985. Reports on the squid tagging in New Zealand waters. Far Seas Fisheries Research Laboratory Spec. Ser No. 14: 1-73

Smith, H.K. 1983. Fishery and biology of Nototodarus gouldi (McCoy, 1888) in Western Bass Strait. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 44: 285-290

History of changes

• Eucleoteuthis Berry, S.S. 1916. Cephalopoda of the Kermadec Islands. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 68: 45-66 pls 6-9 [60] [non Symplectoteuthis Pfeffer, 1900].

  Type species:

   Symplectoteuthis luminosa Sasaki, 1915 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Symplectoteuthis luminosa Sasaki, M. 1915. On three interesting new oegopsids from the Bay of Sagami. Journal of the College of Agriculture, Tohoku Imperial University, Sapporo 6: 131-150 [144].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) TIU 3♂ 7♀, 6 miles off Misaki coast, Japan.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: epipelagic, mesopelagic, nectonic, oceanic, predator, temperate, tropical.

Juvenile: mesopelagic, oceanic, temperate, tropical.

Predator.

General References

Dunning, M. & Brandt, S.B. 1985. Distribution and life history of deep-water squid of commercial interest from Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 343-359 (Australian distribution, life history)

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30 (distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

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

Wormuth, J. 1998. Workshop deliberations on the Ommastrephidae: A brief history of their systematics and a review of the systematics, distributions, and biology of the genera Martialia Rochebrune and Mabille, 1889, Todaropsis Girard, 1890, Dosidicus Steenstrup, 1857, Hyaloteuthis Gray, 1849, and Eucloteuthis Berry, 1916. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 586: 373-383

Wormuth, J.H. 1976. The biogeography and numerical taxonomy of the oegopsid squid family Ommastrephidae in the Pacific Ocean. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique Monaco 23: 1-87 (distribution)

History of changes

• Hyaloteuthis Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Mollusca in the Collection of the British Museum. 1. Cephalopoda Antepedia. London : British Museum (Natural History) 164 pp. [63].

  Type species:

   Sepia pelagica Bosc, 1802 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13)

Distribution References

General References

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 [31]

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 [461]

History of changes

• Sepia pelagica Bosc, L. 1802. Histoire naturelle des vers contenant leur description et leurs moeurs: avec figures dessinée après nature. Vol. 1 Paris : Déterville 324 pp. [46].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHP (no longer extant), locality unknown.

  Secondary source:

   Wormuth, J.H. 1976. The biogeography and numerical taxonomy of the oegopsid squid family Ommastrephidae in the Pacific Ocean. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique Monaco 23: 1-87.

Generic Combinations

• Hyaloteuthis pelagica (Bosc, 1802).

Distribution

States

New South Wales

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: mesopelagic, nectonic, oceanic.

Juvenile: mesopelagic, oceanic, planktonic.

General References

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

Dunning, M. & Brandt, S.B. 1985. Distribution and life history of deep-water squid of commercial interest from Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 343-359 [352] (Australian distribution)

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30 (Australian distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

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

History of changes

• Martialia Rochebrune, A.T. & Mabille, J. 1889. Mollusques. Mission Scientifique du Cap Horn 1882-1883 6: H1-H1431 pl. [H8].

  Type species:

   Martialia hyadesi Rochebrune & Mabille, 1889 by original designation.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

South Atlantic Ocean, Subantarctic region.

IMCRA

Macquarie Island Province (24)

Distribution References

General References

Castellanos, Z.J.E. de 1967. Rehabilitacion del genero Martialia Roch. et Mab. 1887 (Mol. Cephalopoda). Neotropica (La Plata) 13: 121-124 [121]

History of changes

• Martialia hyadesi Rochebrune, A.T. & Mabille, J. 1889. Mollusques. Mission Scientifique du Cap Horn 1882-1883 6: H1-H1431 pl. [9].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) Bay of Orange, Cape Horn; MNHP ♀; MNHP 7-3-512, 513 ♀ and gladius (312 mm ML), Bay of Orange, Cape Horn.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Macquarie Island

IMCRA

Macquarie Island Province (24)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: continental shelf, continental slope, nectonic.

Juvenile: planktonic.

General References

O'Sullivan, D.B., Johnstone, G.W., Kerry, K.W. & Imber, M.J. 1983. A mass stranding of squid Martialia hyadesi Rochebrune and Mabille (Teuthoidea: Ommastrephidae) at Macquarie Island. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 117: 161-163 (Australian distribution)

History of changes

• Nototodarus 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 [434].

  Type species:

   Ommastrephes insignis Gould, 1852 by monotypy.

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

OMMASTREPHIDAE: Nototodarus philippinensis Voss, 1962 — Dunning, M. 1988. First records of Nototodarus hawaiiensis (Berry, 1912) (Cephalopoda: Ommstrephidae) from northern Australia with a reconsideration of the identity of N. sloani philippinensis Voss, 1962. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 49(1): 159-168

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-Pacific region.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4)

Distribution References

General References

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 [434]

History of changes

• Ommastrephes gouldi McCoy, F. 1888. Ommastrephes gouldi (McCoy). Gould's Squid. Prodromus of the zoology of Victoria, or figures and descriptions of the living species of the Victorian indigenous animals 2. Decade 17: 255-257 pls 169, 170 [255].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F5104 ♀ (264 mm ML), Hobson's Bay, Port Phillip Bay, VIC.

Generic Combinations

• Nototodarus gouldi (McCoy, 1888).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

On continental shelf from about 27°S around southern coast to about Shark Bay, including Great Australian Bight and Bass Strait.

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: continental shelf, continental slope, epipelagic, mesopelagic, nectonic, oceanic, temperate.

Juvenile: continental shelf, continental slope, mesopelagic, oceanic, planktonic.

General References

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

Caton, A. 1981. Hoyo Maru takes good Gould's squid catches in Bass Strait survey. Australian Fisheries 40(12): 22-25 [22] (fishery potential)

Dunning, M. 1982. Squid and cuttlefish resources of Australian waters. FAO Fisheries Report FID/R275: 103-111 [103] (fishery potential)

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30 (Australian distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

Smith, H.K. 1983. Fishery and biology of Nototodarus gouldi (McCoy, 1888) in Western Bass Strait. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 44: 285-290

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [48] (Red Arrow Squid)

History of changes

• Ommastrephes hawaiiensis Berry, S.S. 1912. A catalogue of Japanese Cephalopoda. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 64: 344-380 [434].

  Type data:

   Holotype USNM 214382 ♀ adult (138 mm ML), off Kahuku Point, Hawaii, in 253–282 fathoms (463-516 m).

  Secondary source:

   Dunning, M.C. & Förch, E.C. 1998. A review of the systematics, distribution, and biology of arrow squids of the genus Notodarus Pfeffer, 1912 (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 586(II): 393-404.
• Nototodarus sloani philippinensis Voss, G.L. 1962. Six new species and two new subspecies of cephalopods from the Philippine Islands. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 75: 169-176 [175].

  Type data:

   Holotype USNM 575451 ♀, off Atalaya Point, Batag Is., east coast of Luzon, Philippines.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Dunning, M. 1988. First records of Nototodarus hawaiiensis (Berry, 1912) (Cephalopoda: Ommstrephidae) from northern Australia with a reconsideration of the identity of N. sloani philippinensis Voss, 1962. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 49(1): 159-168

Generic Combinations

• Nototodarus hawaiiensis (Berry, 1912). —
  Wormuth, J.H. 1976. The biogeography and numerical taxonomy of the oegopsid squid family Ommastrephidae in the Pacific Ocean. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique Monaco 23: 1-87 [2, 17-21]
• Nototodarus philippinensis (Voss, 1962). —
  Dunning, M. 1988. First records of Nototodarus hawaiiensis (Berry, 1912) (Cephalopoda: Ommstrephidae) from northern Australia with a reconsideration of the identity of N. sloani philippinensis Voss, 1962. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 49(1): 159-168

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Northwest Transition (3), Northwest Province (4)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: continental shelf, mesopelagic, nectonic, oceanic, tropical.

Juvenile: mesopelagic, planktonic, tropical.

Continental shelf, continental slope, mesopelagic, oceanic.

History of changes

• Ommastrephes D'Orbigny, A. in Ferussac, A. de & d'Orbigny, A. 1835. Histoire naturelle générale et particuliere des Céphalopodes Acétabulifères vivants et fossiles. 2 vols. Paris : J.-B. Baillière Libraire de l'Académie Nationale de Médecine 341pp. [45].

  Type species:

   Loligo bartramii Lesueur, 1821 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Loligo bartramii Lesueur, C.A. 1821. Descriptions of several new species of cuttlefish. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2: 86-101 [90].

  Type data:

   Holotype ANSP (specimen lost), not mentioned.

Generic Combinations

• Ommastrephes bartramii (Lesueur, 1821).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: continental shelf, continental slope, epipelagic, nectonic, oceanic, temperate, tropical.

Juvenile: continental shelf, continental slope, epipelagic, oceanic, planktonic, temperate, tropical.

General References

Araya, H. 1983. Fishery biology and stock assessment of Ommastrephes bartrami in the north Pacific Ocean. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 44: 269-283

Dunning, D., Potter, M. & Machida, S. 1981. Hoyo Maru survey shows oceanic squid could have potential. Australian Fisheries 40(12): 26-29 (fishery potential)

Dunning, M.C. 1993. Summer population of Ommastrephes bartramii (Lesueur, 1821) and Todarodes filippovae Adam, 1975 (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) from the Tasman Sea. pp. 97-118 in Okutani, T., O'Dor, R.K. & Kubodera, T. (eds). Recent Advances in Fisheries Biology. Tokyo : Tokai University Press. (Australian distribution, life history)

Jameson, J. 1981. Bass Strait trials show mesh-netting for red ocean squid has potential. Australian Fisheries 40(12): 20-21, 29 (fishery potential)

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30 (Australian distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

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

Young, R.E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the seas off southern California. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 97: 1-159 (distribution)

History of changes

• Ornithoteuthis Okada, Y.K. 1927. IV. Ommastrephes volatilis Sasaki est une forme lumineuse; establissiment d'un nouveau genre: Ornithoteuthis. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique Monaco 494: 13-16 [14].

  Type species:

   Ommastrephes volatilis Sasaki, 1915 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Northwest Transition (3), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

General References

Adam, W. 1957. Notes sur les Céphalopodes. 23. Quelques espèces des Antilles. Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique 33(7): 1-9 [8]

History of changes

• Ommastrephes volatilis Sasaki, M. 1915. On three interesting new oegopsids from the Bay of Sagami. Journal of the College of Agriculture, Tohoku Imperial University, Sapporo 6: 131-150 [138].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) TIU ♂ 2♀, off Atami, Sagami Province, Japan.

Generic Combinations

• Ornithoteuthis volatilis (Sasaki, 1915).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Northwest Transition (3), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: mesopelagic, nectonic, temperate, tropical.

Paralarva: mesopelagic, planktonic, temperate, tropical.

General References

Dunning, M. & Brandt, S.B. 1985. Distribution and life history of deep-water squid of commercial interest from Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 343-359 [354] (Australian distribution, life history)

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30 (Australian distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

History of changes

• Sthenoteuthis Verrill, A.E. 1880. The cephalopods of the north-eastern coast of America, Part I. The gigantic squids and their allies. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences 5: 177-257 [223].

  Type species:

   Architeuthis megaptera Verrill, 1878 (= Ommatostrephes pteropus Steenstrup, 1855) by subsequent designation, see Adam, W. 1952. Résultats scientifiques des expéditions océanographiques belges dans les eaux côtières Africaines de l'Atlantique Sud (1948–1949). Céphalopodes. Résultats Scientifique Expédition Océanographique Belge 1948–1949 3(3): 1-142.
• Symplectoteuthis Pfeffer, G. 1900. Synopsis der Oegopsiden Cephalopoden. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten 17: 145-198 [178].

  Type species:

   Loligo oualaniensis Lesson, 1830 by monotypy.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Nesis, K.N. 1987. Cephalopods of the World. Neptune City, N.J. : T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Ltd 351 pp. [233]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Loligo oualaniensis Lesson, R.P. 1830. Zoologie du voyage autour du Monde, exécuté par ordre du Roi, sur la corvette de sa Majesté, la Coquille, pendant les anées 1822–1825, par M.L.I. Duperry. Zoologie 2, Pt 1. Paris pp. 1–24 and atlas of plates (1826). [240].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHP (not found), Kusai, Caroline Ils, Pacific Ocean (as Oualan).

  Secondary source:

   Voss, G.L. 1963. Cephalopods of the Philippine Islands. United States National Museum Bulletin 234: 1-180.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: continental slope, migratory, pelagic, predator.

Eggs: planktonic.

Juvenile: continental slope, pelagic, planktonic, temperate, tropical.

Migratory, predator.

General References

Dunning, D., Potter, M. & Machida, S. 1981. Hoyo Maru survey shows oceanic squid could have potential. Australian Fisheries 40(12): 26-29 (fishery potential)

Dunning, M. & Brandt, S.B. 1985. Distribution and life history of deep-water squid of commercial interest from Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 343-359 [351] (Australian distribution, life history)

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30 (Australian distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

Okutani, T. & Tung, I.-H. 1978. Reviews of 'Cephalopoda: biology of commercially important squids in Japanese and adjacent waters'. Veliger 21: 87-94

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

History of changes

• Todarodes Steenstrup, J.J. 1880. Orientering i de Ommatostrephagtige Blaeksprutters indbyrdes Forhold. Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1880–1881: 73-110 [83].

  Type species:

   Loligo sagittatus Lamarck, 1802 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Distribution References

General References

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 [31]

History of changes

• Todarodes angolensis Adam, W. 1962. Céphalopodes de l'archipel du Cap-Vert, de l'Angola et du Mozambique. Memórias da Junta de Investigações do Ultramar 2(33): 7-64 [32].

  Type data:

   Holotype RIB ♀ (350 mm ML), (south Atlantic Ocean off Angola, Bai dos Elefantes) [~13°10'S 12°50'E].
  Paratype(s) RIB (330 mm ML).

Distribution

States

Tasmania

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: nectonic.

Oceanic.

General References

Dunning, M.C. 1998. Zoogeography of arrow squids (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in the Coral and Tasman Seas, southwest Pacific. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 586: 435-453

Dunning, M.C. & Wormuth, J.H. 1998. The ommastrephid squid genus Todarodes: a review of systematics, distribution, and biology (Cephalopoda: Teuthoidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 586: 385-391

History of changes

• Todarodes filippovae Adam, W. 1975. Notes sur les céphalopodes. 26. Un nouvelle espèce de Todarodes (Todarodes filippovae sp. nov.) de l'Ocean Indien. Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique 50(9): 1-10 pls 1-2 [3].

  Type data:

   Holotype RIB I.G. 24.424 ♀, (south Atlantic Ocean) [35°S 66°E–38°S 77°E].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: nectonic.

Oceanic.

General References

Dunning, M.C. 1993. Summer population of Ommastrephes bartramii (Lesueur, 1821) and Todarodes filippovae Adam, 1975 (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) from the Tasman Sea. pp. 97-118 in Okutani, T., O'Dor, R.K. & Kubodera, T. (eds). Recent Advances in Fisheries Biology. Tokyo : Tokai University Press. (Australian distribution, life history)

Lu, C.C. & Dunning, M. 1982. Identification guide to Australian arrow squid (Family Ommastrephidae). Victorian Institute of Marine Science, Technical Report 2: 1-30 (Australian distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

Okutani, T. 1980. Useful and Latent Cuttlefish and Squids of the World. Tokyo : National Cooperative Association of Squid Processors 66 pp. (distribution)

History of changes

Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

• Dunning, M. 1988. Todarodes pacificus pusillus new subspecies (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) from northern Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 49(1): 149-157 [153]

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Shelf and slope waters around Japan, south to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and shelf waters around northern Australia.

History of changes

• Todarodes pacificus pusillus Dunning, M. 1988. Todarodes pacificus pusillus new subspecies (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) from northern Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 49(1): 149-157 [149].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F31571 ♂ adult (65 mm), Timor Sea [13°48'S 124°19'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F31570 ♀ adult (64 mm); QM Mo16359 ♂ adult (68 mm); QM Mo16358 ♀ adult (74 mm); QM Mo16357 ♂ adult (53 mm); NMV F31569 ♀ (64 mm).

Generic Combinations

• Todarodes pusillus (Dunning, 1998). —
  Roper, C.F.E., Nigmatullin, C. & Jereb, P. 2010. Family Ommastrephidae. pp. 269-347 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. [333]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: nectonic.

History of changes

• Todaropsis Girard, A.A. 1889. Nota sobre os cephalopodes de Portugal. Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes 2 1: 200-205 [204].

  Type species:

   Todaropsis veranyi Girard, 1889 by subsequent designation, see Posselt, H. 1893. Cephalopoda. Vid. Udbytte kanonbaad "Hauchs Togtyer". Kjøbenhavn [1].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Atlantic and Indian Oceans, North Sea, Mediterrean Sea.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Loligo eblanae Ball, R. 1841. On a species of Loligo found on the shore of Dublin Bay. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 1: 362-364 [364].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown, Dublin Bay Ireland.
• Todaropsis veranyi Girard, A.A. 1889. Nota sobre os cephalopodes de Portugal. Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes 2 1: 200-205 [204].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Adam, W. 1952. Résultats scientifiques des expéditions océanographiques belges dans les eaux côtières Africaines de l'Atlantique Sud (1948–1949). Céphalopodes. Résultats Scientifique Expédition Océanographique Belge 1948–1949 3(3): 1-142 [94]

Generic Combinations

• Todaropsis eblanae (Ball, 1841).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Ecological Descriptors

Eggs: planktonic.

General References

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

Dunning, M. & Brandt, S.B. 1985. Distribution and life history of deep-water squid of commercial interest from Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 36: 343-359 [353] (Australian distribution, life history)

Dunning, M.C. 1998. Zoogeography of arrow squids (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in the Coral and Tasman Seas, southwest Pacific. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 586: 435-453 (distribution)

Lu, C.C. 1982. First record of Todaropsis eblanae (Ball, 1841) (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) in the Pacific Ocean. Venus 4: 67-70 (Australian distribution)

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 (Australian distribution)

Mangold-Wirz, K. 1963. Biologie des céphalopodes benthiques et nektoniques de la Mer Catalane. Vie et Milieu Suppl. 13: 1-285 pls 1-4

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

History of changes

• THYSANOTEUTHIDAE Keferstein, W. 1862-1866. Kopffüsser: Cephalopoda Cuvier. pp. 1307-1464, pls 110-136. in Bronn, H.G. Die Klassen und Orgnungen des Thierreiches: Weichthiere (Malacozoa). Leipzig und Heidelberg. [Date published 1866].

  Type genus:

   Thysanoteuthis Troschel, 1857.

Introduction

The family Thysanoteuthidae Keferstein, 1866 comprises a single genus Thysanoteuthis Troschel.

Thysanoteuthis rhombus was recorded from among the stomach contents of lancetfish from the south-western Pacific and north-eastern Indian Ocean by Rancurel (1970) and Fujita & Hattori (1976). Nesis (1979) recorded net-caught specimens from the Australasian region and the species was first recorded from Australian nearshore waters by Dunning (1982).

Thysanoteuthis rhombus may exceed 800 mm mantle length (ML); females spawn gelatinous sausage-shaped egg masses 150 to 200 mm in diameter and up to 1 m long. A spiral double row of eggs of up to 2 mm diameter is contained in the external layers and these masses have been found near the surface. Around Japan, spawning occurs during the summer months; the smallest hatchlings are 1.1 mm ML (Misaki & Okutani 1976; Suzuki et al. 1979). Lancetfish (Alepisaurus), yellowfin tuna, spotted dolphin and blue marlin all prey on T. rhombus (Clarke 1966; Rancurel 1970, 1976; Fujita & Hattori 1976; Wolff 1982).

Thysanoteuthis rhombus is an oceanic species, generally caught in the upper 50 m of the water column. Juveniles apparently are capable of leaping out of the water but not of 'flying’ as observed in ommastrephids and onychoteuthids. Adults are slow swimmers (Nishimura 1966). In Australian waters, thysanoteuthids have been observed singly or in pairs, although groups of up to 20 have been observed elsewhere (Clarke 1966).

This species occurs circumglobally in tropical surface waters and in the East Australian Current system as far south as north-eastern Tasmania. Juveniles have also been recorded from tropical waters off the North West Shelf.

Diagnosis

Thysanoteuthis rhombus is characterised by a funnel locking cartilage with a long narrow longitudinal groove and a short broad transverse groove, a muscular mantle, and rhombic fins extending the length of the mantle in adults. Arm suckers are biserial and the tentacular suckers are tetraserial. The lateral arms are strongly keeled in large specimens. Long cirrate trabeculae on the arms support a well-developed web, and buccal connectives attach to the ventral borders of the ventral arms. The left ventral arm in males is hectocotylised. No photophores are present.

General References

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

Dunning, M. 1982. Squid and cuttlefish resources of Australian waters. FAO Fisheries Report FID/R275: 103-111

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

Misaki, H. & Okutani, T. 1976. Studies on early life history of decapodan mollusca — VI. An evidence of spawning of an oceanic squid, Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, in the Japanese waters. Venus 35(4): 211-213

Nesis, K.N. 1979. A brief zoogeographic survey of the pelagic zone around Australia and New Zealand (Cephalopods). Trudy Instituta Okeanologii. Akademiya Nauk SSSR. Moskva 106: 125-139 [in Russian]

Nishimura, S. 1966. Notes on the occurrence and biology of the oceanic squid, Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, in Japan. Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory 14(4): 327-349

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

Rancurel, P. 1976. Note sur les Céphalopodes des contenus stomacaux de Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) dans le Sud-ouest Pacifique. Cahiers O.R.S.T.O.M. Serie Océanographique 14(1): 71-80

Suzuki, S., Misaki, H. & Okutani, T. 1979. Studies on early life history of decapodan Mollusca. VIII. A supplementary note on floating egg mass of Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel in Japan—the first underwater photography. Venus 38: 153-55

Wolff, G.A. 1982. A study of feeding relationships in tuna and porpoise through the application of cephalopod beak analysis. Texas A & M Univ. Tech. Rept. DAR-7924779, 231 pp.

History of changes

• Thysanoteuthis Troschel, E. 1857. Bermerkungen uber die Cephalopoden von Messina. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 23: 41-76 [69].

  Type species:

   Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, 1857 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Northwest Shelf Province (27)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, E. 1857. Bermerkungen uber die Cephalopoden von Messina. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 23: 41-76 [70].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Messina, Mediterranean Sea.
• Thysanoteuthis elegans Troschel, E. 1857. Bermerkungen uber die Cephalopoden von Messina. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 23: 41-76 [74].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, locality unknown.
• Thysanoteuthis nuchalis 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 [531].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Clarke, M.R. 1966. A review of the systematics and ecology of oceanic squids. Advances in Marine Biology 4: 91-300 [159]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Northwest Shelf Province (27)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: epipelagic, nectonic, oceanic, temperate.

Juvenile: epipelagic, oceanic, planktonic, temperate, tropical.

General References

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 (Australian distribution)

Suzuki, S., Misaki, H. & Okutani, T. 1979. Studies on early life history of decapodan Mollusca. VIII. A supplementary note on floating egg mass of Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel in Japan—the first underwater photography. Venus 38: 153-55

Yamamoto, T. & Okutani, T. 1975. Studies on early life history of Decapoden Mollusca. V. Systematics and distribution of epipelagic larvae of decapod cephalopods in the south western waters of Japan during the summer in 1970. Bulletin of the Tokai Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory 83: 45-96

History of changes