Grimpoteuthidae

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Grimpoteuthidae
Gmegaptera.jpg
Grimpoteuthis megaptera a representative of its family illustrating the well developed fins and arm webbing.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Suborder: Cirrina
Family: Grimpoteuthidae
O'Shea, 1999
Type genus
Grimpoteuthis
Genera

Grimpoteuthis
Cryptoteuthis
Luteuthis

Grimpoteuthidae are a family of bentho-pelagic octopuses, comprising three currently accepted genera. They have extensive arm webbing and relatively large fins allowing for powerful fin swimming.

Contents

Description

Grimpoteuthidae have a strongly U-, V-, W-shaped internal shell (gladius remnant) that supports muscles for large fins. These fins are proportionally much larger than in the related Opisthoteuthidae, and allow for much stronger swimming using the fins alone (unlike Opisthoteuthids that mostly use the arm webbing for swimming). Unlike Cirroctopodidae and Opisthoteuthidae, Grimpoteuthids also have the optic nerves heading to each eye as a single bundle (in the other families this occurs as multiple separated nerve bundles). The extensive arm webbing is shared with Opisthoteuthidae and Cirroctopodidae. [1]

Taxonomy

The following genera and 19 species are currently accepted in this family. [2] The family has consistently been supported in molecular studies as distinct from Opisthoteuthidae and Cirroctopodidae. [3] [4] Many species in the family are known from only a handful (or even single) specimens, and the taxonomy within the family is very uncertain with many species in Grimpoteuthis possibly being representatives of Cryptoteuthis or even new genera. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirroteuthidae</span> Family of octopuses

Cirroteuthidae is a family of pelagic cirrate octopuses comprising at least three species in two genera.

<i>Grimpoteuthis</i> Genus of cephalopods known as the dumbo octopuses

Grimpoteuthis is a genus of pelagic cirrate (finned) octopods known as the dumbo octopuses. The name "dumbo" originates from their resemblance to the title character of Disney's 1941 film Dumbo, having two prominent ear-like fins which extend from the mantle above each eye. There are 17 species recognized in the genus. Prey include crustaceans, bivalves, worms and copepods. The average life span of various Grimpoteuthis species is 3 to 5 years.

Luteuthis dentatus, also known as Lu's jellyhead, is a medium-sized species of cirrate octopus found in the southwestern Pacific, originally described by Steve O'Shea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umbrella octopus</span> Family of molluscs

Umbrella octopuses are a group of pelagic octopuses. Umbrella octopuses are characterized by a web of skin between the arms, causing them to somewhat resemble an opened umbrella when the arms are spread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teuthology</span> Study of cephalopods

Teuthology is the study of cephalopods. Cephalopods are members of the class Cephalopoda in the Phylum Mollusca. Some common examples of cephalopods are octopus, squid, and cuttlefish. Teuthology is a large area of study that covers cephalopod life cycles, reproduction, evolution, anatomy and taxonomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrina</span> Suborder of octopuses

Cirrina or Cirrata is a suborder and one of the two main divisions of octopuses. Cirrate octopuses have a small, internal shell and two fins on their head, while their sister suborder Incirrina has neither. The fins of cirrate octopods are associated with a unique cartilage-like shell in a shell sac. In cross-section, the fins have distinct proximal and distal regions, both of which are covered by a thin surface sheath of muscle.

<i>Stauroteuthis syrtensis</i> Species of octopus

Stauroteuthis syrtensis, also known as the glowing sucker octopus or bioluminescent octopus, is a species of small pelagic octopus found at great depths in the north Atlantic Ocean. It is one of a very small number of octopuses to exhibit bioluminescence.

<i>Cirroteuthis</i> Genus of octopuses

Cirroteuthis muelleri, also known as the big-finned jellyhead, was the first cirrate octopus species to be scientifically described. It is closely related to the genus Cirrothauma within the family Cirroteuthidae. At present the genus contains a single recognized species restricted to the Arctic Ocean and northern basins of the Atlantic and Pacific, but other species may be present in the southern hemisphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrate shell</span> Internal shell of cirrate octopuses

Cirrate octopuses possess a well-developed internal shell that supports their muscular swimming fins. This is in contrast to the more familiar, finless, incirrate octopuses, in which the shell remnant is either present as a pair of stylets or absent altogether.

Cryptoteuthis brevibracchiata, the short-arm flapjack octopod, is a deepwater species of octopod. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Cryptoteuthis one of the cirrate octopuses of the family Grimpoteuthidae, the umbrella octopuses. It is known from a single specimen which was collected in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. It has characteristics which are shared with two other genera, Opisthoteuthis and Grimpoteuthis, but is sufficiently distinctive from either of these to warrant the erection of a new genus.

Luteuthis is a small genus of cirrate octopuses currently placed in the family Grimpoteuthidae. There are two species classified in this genus one from waters west of New Zealand and the other from the South China Sea.

Grimpoteuthis boylei is a species of octopus known from only ten individuals.

<i>Grimpoteuthis discoveryi</i> Species of octopus

Grimpoteuthis discoveryi is a small species of octopus known from more than 50 specimens. It was described in 2003, but specimens have been found as early as 1910. The type species was found at 49°35'N, 14°01'W.

Grimpoteuthis innominata, commonly known as the small jellyhead, is a species of small, pelagic octopus described by Steve O'Shea in 1999 from two specimens, however several further specimens have since been identified. The genus Enigmateuthis was described to contain this species when described, but Martin Collins placed the species in the genus Grimpoteuthis due to uncertainty regarding the type specimen of Grimpoteuthis.

<i>Grimpoteuthis plena</i> Species of octopus

Grimpoteuthis plena is known from only one specimen, which cannot be easily separated from other species of Grimpoteuthis in the Atlantic Ocean. The specimen was in poor condition. It's similar to Grimpoteuthis wuelkeri, and may be a junior specimen of Grimpoteuthis umbellata.

<i>Opisthoteuthis chathamensis</i> Species of octopus

Opisthoteuthis chathamensis, commonly known as the roughy umbrella octopus, is a species of cirrate octopus restricted to demersal habitats surrounding the Chatham Rise in New Zealand. It is commonly known as the roughy umbrella octopus.

<i>Opisthoteuthis agassizii</i> Species of octopus

Opisthoteuthis agassizii is a lesser-known, deep-sea octopus first described in 1883 by Addison E. Verrill.

Opisthoteuthis bruuni is a species of finned cirrate octopus found along the western coast of South America. Their tissue is almost jelly-like, and they have short, round bodies.

Opisthoteuthis robsoni, also known as the deep-water umbrella octopus, is a deep-sea octopus living off New Zealand on the Chatham Rise. It has been found from 1,178–1,723 m (3,865–5,653 ft) below the surface. Not much is known about the octopus' habitat or life cycle, as only four specimens have been found. It occupies the benthic zone, or the seafloor and the water directly above it. O. robsoni eats large amphipods.

Grimpoteuthis greeni is a dumbo octopus found in deep waters off southern Australia. The species was initially described from three specimens, with a further three specimens identified since then.

References

  1. Collins, Martin; Villanueva, Roger (2006). "Taxonomy, Ecology And Behaviour Of The Cirrate Octopods". Oceanography and Marine Biology. Oceanography and Marine Biology - an Annual Review. 44: 277–322. doi:10.1201/9781420006391.ch6. ISBN   978-0-8493-7044-1.
  2. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Grimpoteuthidae O'Shea, 1999". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  3. Piertney, Stuart B.; Hudelot, Cendrine; Hochberg, F.G.; Collins, Martin A. (May 2003). "Phylogenetic relationships among cirrate octopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) resolved using mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 27 (2): 348–353. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00420-7. PMID   12695097.
  4. Taite, M.; Fernández-Álvarez, F.á.; Braid, H.E.; Bush, S.L.; Bolstad, K.; Drewery, J.; Mills, S.; Strugnell, J.M.; Vecchione, M.; Villanueva, R.; Voight, J.R.; Allcock, A.L. (May 2023). "Genome skimming elucidates the evolutionary history of Octopoda". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 182: 107729. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107729 . hdl: 10261/329953 . PMID   36773750. S2CID   256804597.
  5. Verhoeff, Tristan Joseph; O’Shea, Steve (2022-01-02). "New records and two new species of Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata: Grimpoteuthididae) from southern Australia and New Zealand". Molluscan Research. 42 (1): 4–30. doi:10.1080/13235818.2022.2035889. ISSN   1323-5818. S2CID   247020706.