Family LEPIDOTEUTHIDAE

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Introduction

The family Lepidoteuthidae Naef, 1912 was considered to include three genera of medium- to large-sized (up to 1000 mm mantle length (ML)), oceanic and continental slope species: Lepidoteuthis, Pholidoteuthis Adam and Tetronychoteuthis Pfeffer (Roper et al. 1969). However, Clarke (1980) restricted the family to include only Lepidoteuthis, and assigned Pholidoteuthis and Tetronychoteuthis to the family Pholidoteuthidae Adam, 1950. The Lepidoteuthidae are now recognised as monotypic.

Rancurel (1970, 1976) reported finding Lepidoteuthis grimaldii Joubin in the stomachs of lancetfish (Alepisaurus) and yellowfin tuna caught in the Coral Sea, and Clarke (1980) and Clarke & MacLeod (1982) found lepidoteuthids among the stomach contents of sperm whales from south-western Australia and the Tasman Sea respectively. Lu & Phillips (1985) also listed Lepidoteuthis grimaldii from the Tasman Sea.

The family is easily recocognised by the presence of ‘scales’, termed dermal cushions by Roper & Lu (1990). These dermal cushions are distinctly diamond-shaped to hexagonal in form, and arranged like fish scales; they lack bony structure. Internally they are vacuolated and contain numerous chambers of irregular size and shape, separated by thin membranous walls. Roper & Lu (1990) suggested that the dermal cushions may serve to store a less dense solution containing ammonium ions, thereby functioning, together with the mantle, as a buoyancy mechanism.

Very little is known about the life history of the members of this family. In addition to the predators listed above, they are also preyed upon by pilot whales, dolphins, deep-sea sharks and scabbard fish (Clarke 1966).

Diagnosis

Lepidoteuthids are characterised by the presence of distinct dermal cushions which are diamond-shaped to hexagonal and are arranged like fish scales, although lacking bony structure. The scales occur only on the surface of the mantle; they are absent from the fins. The funnel locking apparatus is simple and straight, suckers are biserially toothed. Adults lack tentacles. Buccal connectives attach to the ventral border of the ventral arms and light organs are absent. Hectocotylisation in males has not been described

General References

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

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

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

Roper, C.F.E., Young, R.E. & Voss, G.L. 1969. An illustrated key to the families of the order Teuthoidea (Cephalopoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 13: 1-32

Roper, C.F.E. & Lu, C.C. 1990. Comparative morphology and function of dermal structures in oceanic squids (Cephalopoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 493: 1-40

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