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Containing group: Abraliopsis

Introduction

A. atlantica is based on the illustration of an enoploteuthid squid in Chun (1910). Details of morphology are still uncertain.

Characteristics

1. Tentacle clubs
   1. Two rows of distinct different-sized hooks on manus.
   2. Carpal flap and aboral keel absent.
2. Arms
   1. Arms IV relatively long.
3. Hectocotylus and male sexual dimorphism
   1. Hectocotylus with two subequal-sized offset flaps.
   2. Modified portion without armature.
   3. Protective membrane and its spatulate trabeculae well developed on left arm IV, web-like; minute conical papillae on trabeculae.
4. Integumental Photophores
   1. Ventral mantle with six narrow longitudinal stripes of large integumental organs and scattered intermediate small organs between stripes and with a distinct wide mid-ventral photophore-less strip.
   2. Ventral head with three narrow, longitudinal stripes and some intermediate scattered organs between them.
   3. Stripes of organs along ventral side of arm III and dorsal side of arm IV are interrupted.

Comments

This species is closely resembles to A. falco.

Life history

Age

Female longetivity is up to 5 months and male up to 3.5months (Arkhipkin and Murzov, 1990).

Distribution

Vertical Distribution

In the Benguela area, equatorial East Atlantic, this species is distributed vertically in the upper layer of the thermocline during daytime, and from the surface to 100-150m at night (Arkhipkin and Murzov, 1990).

Geographical Distribution

Tropical to subtropical Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico (Nesis, 1982/87).

References

Arkhipkin, A.I. and Murzov, S.A. 1990. Age and growth pattern of the micronectonic squid Abraliopsis atlantica. Biologiya Morya, no.5, 19-25.

Nesis, K. N. 1982. Abridged key to the cephalopod mollusks of the world's ocean. 385+ii pp. Light and Food Industry Publishing House, Moscow. (In Russian.). Translated into English by B. S. Levitov, ed. by L. A. Burgess (1987), Cephalopods of the world. T. F. H. Publications, Neptune City, NJ, 351pp.