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Containing group: Enoploteuthis

Introduction

Enoploteuthis higginsi, a relatively small-sized species for the genus, attains 70mm DML. This species resembles the sympatrically occurring species E. jonesi, but is separable by the large numbers and relatively diffuse arrangement of integumental photophores on the mantle and head.

Characteristics

1. Tentacle
   1. Tentacle long, with distinct club.
   2. Carpal cluster oval.
   3. Two rows of different-sized hooks on manus.
   4. Four rows of suckers on dactylus.
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2. Hectocotylus
   1. Hectocotylus with large truncate membranous flap on the ventral edge and small semilunar one on the dorso-distal edge.
   2. Modified portion partially lacks armature.
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3. Integumental Photophores
   1. Ventral mantle with six, obscure, longitudinal stripes of integumental organs; scattered intermediate organs occur between stripes.
   2. Ventral head with four longitudinal stripes of integumental organs that are interconnected at each end forming a ring-like pattern; in mature specimens, photophore arrangement almost diffuse.
   3. Ventral side of arm III with a series of organs on the proximal half of the arm at the base of aboral keel.

Comments

This speceis closely resembles E. jonesi in most taxonomical characters. It is separable from E. jonesi by the large numbers of integumental photophores on the ventral head and mantle. In E. jonesi, each photophore stripe on head is formed by a single row of organs rather than the multiple rows of E. higginsi.

Life history

Eggs

Eggs in early organogenesis stage having a large diagnostic pigment spot are 0.9 mm x 0.8 mm.

Paralarva

Paralarva of present species is characterized by:

1. Tentacular club short, and bearing few very large suckers.
2. Numerous chromatophores covering mantle and head.

(Young and Harman, 1985)

Distribution

Vertical distribution

Vertical distribution of paralarva shows a peak at 100-150m during both day and night in Hawaiian waters (Young and Harman, 1985).

Geographical distribution

This species is widely distributed in equatorial Pacific waters from the Northwest Pacific and Hawaii, to the Coral Sea (Burgess, 1982; Tsuchiya, 1993).

References

Burgess, L.A. 1982.

Young, R.E. and Harman, 1985.