Japetella diaphana

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Japetella diaphana
Japetella diaphana.jpg
Illustration from 1910
Pu - Japetella diaphana - 1.jpg
Model at the Natural History Museum in London, England
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Amphitretidae
Genus: Japetella
Species:
J. diaphana
Binomial name
Japetella diaphana
(Hoyle, 1885)

Japetella diaphana is a species of deep-sea pelagic octopus that inhabits the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones of the ocean [2] worldwide. It is known for its transparent body and bioluminescence. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

J. diaphana belongs to the subfamily Bolitaeninae and family Amphitretidae, within the order Octopoda and suborder Incirrata. Its class is Cephalopoda, its subclass is Coleoidea, and its phylum is Mollusca. This species does not have a set common name, but has been referred to as the "transparent octopus" or "gelatinous deep-sea octopus."[ citation needed ]

Anatomy and morphology

This species of octopus is characterized by its small, gelatinous body and distinctive bioluminescent capabilities, which play a role in counter-illumination and predator avoidance, communication, [3] and predation.[ citation needed ] Its adaptations, including bioluminescent tissues and metabolic strategies, are well suited to the deep-sea environment, where visual predator-prey interactions are constrained by light availability. [4]

Illustration from 1910 of Japetella diaphana's arms and mouth Japetella diaphana arms.jpg
Illustration from 1910 of Japetella diaphana's arms and mouth

Specimens collected from Hawaiian waters had a mantle length of 35–80 mm (0.98–3 in). [5] Mature specimens obtained in the northeast Pacific and central and eastern Atlantic had a mantle length of 53–144 mm (2–6.7 in), a body mass of 18–235 g (0.6–8.3 oz), and the number of growth increments in their beaks ranged from 21 to 207. Growth increments may take more than one day to form. [2] It is suggested that its pace of life is slower and its lifespan is longer compared to neritic octopus species. [2] This species also exhibits physiological traits and plasticity that allow it to survive hypoxic conditions. [6] Unlike most ectotherms, J. diaphana is better able to tolerate hypoxic conditions at warmer temperatures. [6]

Distribution and habitat

This octopus is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. [6] Unlike many other octopuses,[ citation needed ] it is pelagic, inhabiting both the mesopelagic (200–1,000 m (660–3,280 ft)) and bathypelagic (1,000–4,000 m (3,300–13,100 ft)) zones. [2] [6] This species is the most widespread deep-sea cephalopod in the Mexican Pacific, having been sampled during the TALUD III-XVI-B research cruises in 11 stations off the west coast of Mexico. [7] It has also been recorded in areas like the Gulf of California, Monterey Bay (California), the North Atlantic, and near the Cape Verde archipelago. [2] In the Sargasso Sea, it is primarily found in the southern area, where its distribution is influenced by oceanographic features such as temperature gradients and water currents. [8]

The octopus undergoes diel vertical migration (DVM), moving between depths in response to light availability. [4] It is also known for its ontogenetic vertical migration, where juveniles start their life at shallower depths (approximately 200 m (660 ft)) and gradually descend to deeper depths as they mature, with brooding females often found at depths exceeding 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft). [6]

J. diaphana is particularly abundant in regions with deep-water oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), such as the one in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) off the coast of Mexico and Central America. It is well-adapted to the hypoxic conditions present in these zones. [6] Despite its tolerance, this species avoids the most extreme hypoxic zones, instead populating the more oxygenated waters surrounding these areas. [6]

Diet

The octopus is an opportunistic predator that primarily feeds on small crustaceans and zooplankton. Specimens collected during the TALUD III-XVI-B research cruises off the west coast of Mexico contained crustacean remains in their stomachs, suggesting a diet composed mainly of organisms like copepods and amphipods. [7] Its ability to switch between prey types based on availability may be essential for its survival in the resource scarce deep-sea environment.[ citation needed ]

This species relies on ambush predation, using its transparency and bioluminescent camouflage to avoid detection and approach prey.[ citation needed ] Additionally, the circumoral photophore present on mature females [5] may assist in luring prey or providing more camouflage. [9]

Reproduction

Illustration from 1910 of Japetella diaphana larvae Japetella diaphana1.jpg
Illustration from 1910 of Japetella diaphana larvae

J. diaphana's reproductive strategy is characterized by synchronous ovulation, with mature females spawning approximately 2,000 eggs. [9] A brooding female collected at 1,352 m (4,436 ft) in the Gulf of California carried 1,419 eggs in the pre-organogenetic stage, with a diameter of approximately 2.5 mm. [2] Immature and maturing females have a higher number of oocytes, approximately 4,000, but many undergo resorption before reaching full maturity.[ citation needed ] This species broods its eggs within the arm crown, holding them in front of the mouth. This behavior likely restricts the ability to feed. [9] It is estimated that embryonic development takes about 731 days in cold deep-sea conditions (4.5 °C (40.1 °F). [9]

A large, bioluminescent circumoral photophore is found on mature females. [3] [5] It lies beneath a transparent outer layer, forming a thick ring around the mouth with blood vessels and muscle fibers passing through. One female specimen collected from Hawaiian waters had a photophore that was yellow and 1.5 mm deep by 3 mm wide (0.05 in by 0.12 in). It also had short, extended lobes that gave it a flower-like appearance. [5] This organ originates from a muscular ring that undergoes cellular proliferation, followed by gradual degeneration of the muscle tissue. Its photocytes have a uniform cytoplasm with small mitochondria, granular aggregates, and microtubular or microfibrillar bundles. [3] It may play a role in mate attraction, particularly in the low-light environments of the deep sea. [5] [10]

Threats

Like many other deep-sea cephalopods J. diaphana faces significant metabolic limitations. Its metabolic rate decreases with increasing depth, potentially limiting its ability to perform energy-intensive activities such as rapid escape responses. [11] This species is also subject to parasitic infections. Observations from remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in the Monterey Submarine Canyon identified gill parasites in J. diaphana, with a recorded in situ prevalence of 7%. [12] These parasites reduce host fitness by diverting resources and impairing respiration. [12]

Additionally, J. diaphana faces predation, especially due to its transparent and gelatinous body which offers limited protection.[ citation needed ] Its presence in the stomach of the pelagic stingray ( Pteroplatytrygon violacea ) suggests that it may be a prey item for large predators in the tropical Atlantic. [13] While cephalopods primarily rely on escape for survival, variations in species-specific behavior can influence their ability to evade predators. [14] J. diaphana may also be increasingly affected by human-induced environmental changes, such as ocean deoxygenation and deep-sea exploration.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ Allcock, L. (2014). "Japetella diaphana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014 e.T162986A960411. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T162986A960411.en .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schwarz, Richard; Piatkowski, Uwe; Robison, Bruce H.; Laptikhovsky, Vladimir V.; Hoving, Henk-Jan (2020-10-01). "Life history traits of the deep-sea pelagic cephalopods Japetella diaphana and Vampyroteuthis infernalis" . Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 164 103365. Bibcode:2020DSRI..16403365S. doi: 10.1016/j.dsr.2020.103365 . ISSN   0967-0637.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Herring, P. J.; Dilly, P.N.; Cope, Celia (1987). "The morphology of the bioluminescent tissue of the cephalopod Japetella diaphana (Octopoda: Bolitaenidae)". Journal of Zoology. 212 (2): 245–254. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1987.tb05987.x. ISSN   0952-8369.
  4. 1 2 Seibel, BA; Thuesen, EV; Childress, JJ (2000). "Light-limitation on predator-prey interactions: consequences for metabolism and locomotion of deep-sea cephalopods". The Biological Bulletin. 198 (2): 284–298. doi:10.2307/1542531. ISSN   0006-3185. JSTOR   1542531. PMID   10786948.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Robison, Bruce H.; Young, Richard Edward (1981). "Bioluminescence in Pelagic Octopods". Pacific Science. 35 (1): 39–44. ISSN   0030-8870.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Birk, Matthew A.; Mislan, K. A. S.; Wishner, Karen F.; Seibel, Brad A. (2019-06-01). "Metabolic adaptations of the pelagic octopod Japetella diaphana to oxygen minimum zones". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 148: 123–131. Bibcode:2019DSRI..148..123B. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2019.04.017. ISSN   0967-0637.
  7. 1 2 Urbano, Brian; and Hendrickx, Michel E. (2019-01-02). "Offshore cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) collected off the west coast of Mexico during the TALUD cruises" . Molluscan Research. 39 (1): 13–28. Bibcode:2019MollR..39...13U. doi:10.1080/13235818.2018.1495799. ISSN   1323-5818.
  8. ↑ Lischka, Alexandra; Piatkowski, Uwe; Hanel, Reinhold (2017-01-17). "Cephalopods of the Sargasso Sea: distribution patterns in relation to oceanography". Marine Biodiversity. 47 (3): 685–697. Bibcode:2017MarBd..47..685L. doi:10.1007/s12526-016-0629-4. ISSN   1867-1616.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Schwarz, Richard; Hoving, Henk-Jan; Noever, Christoph; Piatkowski, Uwe (2019-07-11). "Life histories of Antarctic incirrate octopods (Cephalopoda: Octopoda)". PLOS ONE. 14 (7) e0219694. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1419694S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219694 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   6622534 . PMID   31295339.
  10. ↑ Lonsdale, Peter (1981). "Drifts and ponds of reworked pelagic sediment in part of the southwest Pacific". Marine Geology. 43 (3–4): 153–193. Bibcode:1981MGeol..43..153L. doi:10.1016/0025-3227(81)90180-8. ISSN   0025-3227.
  11. ↑ Seibel, B. A.; Thuesen, E. V.; Childress, J. J.; Gorodezky, L. A. (1997). "Decline in Pelagic Cephalopod Metabolism With Habitat Depth Reflects Differences in Locomotory Efficiency". The Biological Bulletin. 192 (2): 262–278. doi:10.2307/1542720. ISSN   0006-3185. JSTOR   1542720. PMID   28581868.
  12. 1 2 Stenvers, Vanessa I.; Sherlock, Rob E.; Reisenbichler, Kim R.; Robison, Bruce H. (2022-05-18). "ROV observations reveal infection dynamics of gill parasites in midwater cephalopods". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 8282. Bibcode:2022NatSR..12.8282S. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-11844-y. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   9117243 . PMID   35585085.
  13. ↑ Véras, Dráusio Pinheiro; Vaske Júnior, Teodoro; Hazin, Fábio Hissa Vieira; Lessa, Rosangela Paula; Travassos, Paulo Eurico; Tolotti, Mariana Travassos; Barbosa, Taciana Martins (2009). "Stomach contents of the pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) (elasmobranchii: dasyatidae) from the tropical atlantic". Brazilian Journal of Oceanography. 57 (4): 339–343. doi: 10.1590/s1679-87592009000400008 . ISSN   1679-8759.
  14. ↑ Wood, James B.; and Anderson, Roland C. (2004-04-01). "Interspecific Evaluation of Octopus Escape Behavior" . Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 7 (2): 95–106. doi:10.1207/s15327604jaws0702_2. ISSN   1088-8705. PMID   15234886.
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