Luteuthis dentatus

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Lu's Jellyhead
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Grimpoteuthidae
Genus: Luteuthis
Species:
L. dentatus
Binomial name
Luteuthis dentatus
O'Shea, 1999 [2]

Luteuthis dentatus, also known as Lu's jellyhead, [3] is a medium-sized species of cirrate octopus found in the southwestern Pacific, originally described by Steve O'Shea.

Contents

Description

Luteuthis dentatus reaches a relatively large size with disproportionately long arms. The male holotype specimen from off New Zealand had a total length of 524 mm, while a large female from off Macquarie Island had a total length of 590 mm. However, for the latter specimen, this length was following considerable shrinkage in ethanol, with the original length estimated to be 850 mm. The fins are very large with a red or pink tinge. [4] [3]

The species was given the name dentatus because it has a radula, a tooth-like structure used for tearing food into pieces. Few other cirrate species possess this feature. [3]

Distribution

Luteuthis dentatus was originally described from material collected in the waters around New Zealand, with two specimens being collected over a depth range of 991–1050 m. [5] [6]

The species has more recently been confirmed to also occur off Macquarie Island (Australian Antarctic Territories), with a single large specimen collected at 870–979 m depth. [4]

Related Research Articles

<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 3–5 years.

<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.

<i>Stauroteuthis</i> Genus of octopuses

Stauroteuthis is a genus of deepwater cirrate octopus, a cephalopod mollusk. This is the only genus in the family Stauroteuthidae, and only three species have been described in this genus.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve O'Shea</span> New Zealand marine biologist

Steve O'Shea is a marine biologist and environmentalist known for his research on giant squid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven-arm octopus</span> Species of cephalopod

The seven-arm octopus, also known as the blob octopus or sometimes called septopus, is one of the two largest known species of octopus; the largest specimen ever discovered had an estimated total length of 3.5 m (11 ft) and mass of 75 kg (165 lb). The only other similarly large extant species is the giant Pacific octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini.

<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.

Stauroteuthis gilchristi is a species of small pelagic octopus found at great depths in the south Atlantic Ocean. It is believed to be one of a very small number of octopuses to exhibit bioluminescence, like its sister taxon Stauroteuthis syrtensis.

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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.

<i>Cirrothauma magna</i> Species of octopus

Cirrothauma magna, also known as the big-eye jellyhead, 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. Their shells are somewhat saddle-shaped. C. magna is the sister taxon of Cirrothauma murrayi, but can be readily distinguished by having large and well developed eyes.

Grimpoteuthis abyssicola, commonly known as the red jellyhead, is a species of small deep-sea octopus known from two specimens. The holotype specimen was a female collected on the Lord Howe Rise, between 3154 and 3180 meters depth. A second specimen was collected on the continental slope of south-eastern Australia between 2821 and 2687 m depth.

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.

Opisthoteuthis calypso or calypso flapjack octopus is a species of genus Opisthoteuthis, which are known as the cirrate octopuses. Octopuses in this genus are known as the flapjack octopuses and can be found in a variety of oceans across the world.

<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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grimpoteuthidae</span> Family of bentho-pelagic octopuses

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.

References

  1. Lyons, G.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Luteuthis dentatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T163361A1001928. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T163361A1001928.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Philippe Bouchet (2018). "Luteuthis dentatus O'Shea, 1999". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 O'Shea, Steve (March 9, 2019). "Deep-sea finned Octopoda of New Zealand". Octopus News Magazine. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Verhoeff, Tristan Joseph (2023-07-20). "A new species of Stauroteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata) and further novel cirrate octopods from Australian waters". Molluscan Research: 1–20. doi:10.1080/13235818.2023.2232534. ISSN   1323-5818. S2CID   260017318.
  5. O'Shea, Steve (1999). The marine fauna of New Zealand - Octopoda (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). NIWA Biodiversity memoir. Wellington: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. ISBN   978-0-478-08486-3.
  6. O'Shea, Steve; Lu, Chung Cheng (2002). "A New Species of Luteuthis (Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Octopoda: Cirrata) from the South China Sea". Zoological Studies. 41 (2): 119–126.