| Inopinoteuthis magna | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Cirroteuthidae |
| Genus: | Inopinoteuthis |
| Species: | I. magna |
| Binomial name | |
| Inopinoteuthis magna (Hoyle, 1885) | |
| Synonyms | |
Inopinoteuthis magna, also known as the big-eye jellyhead, [2] is a species of deep-sea cirrate octopus that has been found in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. It is known from four damaged specimens. [3] The species was originally described in genus Cirroteuthis, and was later allocated to Cirrothauma since its shell and elongate arms are similar to those of Cirrothauma murrayi . [4] More recently the species (along with I. hoylei) has been allocated to a separate genus (Inopinoteuthis) given that these species differ rather strongly from Cirrothauma in having functional eyes (vs. vestigial eyes in C. murrayi) and differ greatly in sucker form. [5] [6]
Inopinoteuthis magna is likely the largest species of cirrate octopus, one female specimen measuring 1.7 m total length. [7] The animal has delicate, jelly-like flesh. [2]
