Asperoteuthis lui Salcedo-Vargas 1999

Introduction

This species is known from a single damaged specimen that was taken from the stomach of a fish (a ling). The specimen was without a funnel or mantle, but had arms, one tentacle and eyes. Apparently the sucker rings from the arm and tentacle suckers were missing.

Brief diagnosis:

An Asperoteuthis ...

• without a terminal club photophore.
• with 180 suckers on distal portion of tentacular club. 

Characteristics

1. Arms
   1. Enlarged arm suckers in middle and distal regions of arms II and III; arm IV suckers smaller, none enlarged.
2. Tentacle
   1. Tentacle divided into two portions: proximal portion much shorter than distal portion; proximal portion without suckers and with mostly fused trabeculae.
   2. Tentacle shape lanceolate.
   3. Distal portion of club with 50 trabeculae on either margin and 180 suckers in four series (45 transverse rows of suckers).
   4. Marginal suckers larger than medial suckers.
   5. Club tip sharp, without terminal photophore.
      
   

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   Figure. Oral view of the tentacular club of A. lui. Drawing from Salcedo-Vargas (1999).
3. Photophores
   1. Tentacular stalk with 120 knob-like photophores that alternate in size.
      
      

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      Figure. Oral view of a portion of the tentacular stalk of A. lui, showing photophores of two sizes. Drawing from Salcedo-Vargas (1999).

   2. Aboral surface of tentacle with median series of seven photophores with aboral pores; photophores and pores increase in size distally. Distal photophore about 4 mm in length.
      

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      Figure. Aboral view of the tentacular club of A. lui, showing mid-line photophores. Drawing from Salcedo-Vargas (1999).

   3. "Patch of iridescent tissue on ventral side of eyeball."
      
   photo
   

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   Figure. Ventrolateral view of the eyeball of A. lui, showing "iridescent tissue" (shaded area). Drawing from Salcedo-Vargas (1999).
4. Measurements
   1. Arm I length - 260 mm; arm II length - 300 mm; arm III length - 320 mm; arm IV length - 380 mm.
   2. Tentacle length - 2.15 m; club length - 130 mm.
   3. Eye diameter - 30 mm; lens diameter - 10 mm.

Comments

This description is taken from Salcedo-Vargas, 1999.

Distribution

References

Salcedo-Vargas, M.A. 1999. An asperoteuthid squid (Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Chiroteuthidae) from New Zealand misidentified as Architeuthis. Mitteilungen aus dem Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin, Zoologische Reihe 75:47-49.