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The genus contains the following 11 nominal species.

Containing group: Enoploteuthidae

Introduction

These small squids are most easily recognized by spherical "black" photophores (usually three) at the tip of each Arm IV. The black appearance is due to chromatophores that cover the photophores when the latter are not active. This feature is shared with Watasenia scintillans from waters around Japan.

Characteristics

The following characters are from Young, et al., 1998.

1. Arms
   1. Suckers absent from arms IV (only hooks present).
2. Tentacles
   1. Manus of club with two series of hooks and one series of suckers.
3. Buccal crown
   1. Dark epithelial pigmentation on oral surface rather than typical chromatophores.*
4. Photophores
   1. Two to four large organs covered by black chromatophores on tips of arms IV.*
   2. Five organs on eyeball.*
   3. Complex organs of integument, in life, with red color filters.*

*Characters shared with Watasenia

Comments

As in the other genera of the family, Abraliopsis has three types of integumental photophores covering the arms, head, funnel and mantle. The right-hand photo shows the ventral surface of the head and funnel. The most complex of the integumental photophores have red color filters. The other two types appear as blue photophores with white cores in the photos and can be separated only by size in these pictures. Large white ocular photophores are also easily seen through the skin. The photo on the left is an enlargement of some of the photophores.

image info

image info

References

Young, R. E., L. A. Burgess, C. F. E. Roper, M. J. Sweeney and S. J. Stephen. 1998. Classification of the Enoploteuthidae, Pyroteuthidae and Ancistrocheiridae. Smithson. Contr. Zool., No. 586: 239-256.