Family CHTENOPTERYGIDAE Grimpe, 1922

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

  Type genus:

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

Introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diagnosis

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

General References

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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