Order TEUTHIDA

Museums

Regional Maps

Introduction

Members of the Teuthida are all inshore and oceanic squid. Two suborders are recognised within the order: Myopsida and Oegopsida.

Diagnosis

Ten appendages: 4 pairs of arms and one pair of non-retractile tentacles (in rare cases tentacles may disappear in adults but are always present in larvae and these have the typical squid form). Tentacular clubs and arms with stalked suckers. Suckers have a chitinous ring with the edge either smooth or denticulate; ring sometimes modified to form a hook. Arms commonly not connected by webs. Fins always present, variable, but not paddle-like, located at posterior part of body or along the entire mantle and, generally, join along midline or near posterior end. Nuchal, mantle, and funnel cartilages generally present. In some species the mantle is fused with the head and (less frequently) with the funnel, but if so, the mantle cavity communicates with the exterior by three openings: one on ventral side of body and two on sides of head. Small projections ('angles') located on anterior edge of mantle near mantle cartilages; ventral mantle edge between these projections slightly excavated. Shell represented by a thin, horny, pen-like or sagittate gladius (very rarely gladius absent), never calcified. Central radular tooth tricuspid (very rarely unicuspid).

The order is divided into two suborders: Myopsida and Oegopsida.

History of changes