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Histioteuthis atlantica (Hoyle 1885)

Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione
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Holotype: Male, 35 mm ML.Deposited in BM #1890.1.24.18.
Containing group: Histioteuthidae

Introduction

H. atlantica has a circumglobal distribution in southern waters and reaches a size of, at least, 258 mm ML.

Characteristics

  1. Photophores
    1. Large, compound photophores with anteriorly and posteriorly (see black arrows in photograph to the right) directed reflectors .
    2. Arms IV with 4 longitudinal series on arm base (dorsal series with organs of mixed sizes).
    3. Terminal third of each arm I-III with row of large, elliptical, darkly pigmented, simple organs.
  2. Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
    Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

    Figure. Ventral view of an anterior segment of the ventral mantle of H. atlantica, 57 mm ML, 48°S, 145°E, USNM cat. no. 814656. Black arrows point to the Posterior reflector of large photophores; white arrows point to small photophores. Photograph by R. Young.

Comments

More details of the description can be found here.

Species of the reversa-group are distinguished by the following characters:

  1. Compound photophores
    1. Large and small photophores intermixed on ventral surface of mantle .
    2. 18 photophores (17 large and 1 small) around right eyelid.
  2. Beak
    1. Weakly developed median ridge on each lateral wall.
  3. Tubercles
    1. Absent.

This species is most easily separated from other members of the reversa group by (1) the arrangement of photophores on arms IV (H. reversa - 4 series, dorsal one with all small organs; H. eltaninae - 3 series), (2) the absence of specialized arm-tip photophores in H. eltaninae and H. reversa.

The posteriorly directed reflectors are also known in H. reversa, but the condition in H. eltaninae is unknown. With the exception of information on the posterior reflectors of the compound photophores, the above information is from Voss (1969).

Life History

Numerous small, darkly pigmented, simple photophores on the posterior region of the mantle only appear at maturity. The number and density of the photophores increases with size of the squid. Mature females are unknown. (Voss, et al., 1998). Lipinski (1993) noted various differences from specimens he had between those taken from western South Atlantic compared to the eastern South Atlantic. In the illustrations below note the presence of dark, simple photophores along the ventral mantle margin in the South African specimen compared to their absence in the specimen from the eastern South Atlantic. The significance of the differences has not been resolved.

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Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Figure. Ventral and dorsal views of the mantles of mature males of H. atlantica. Left pair - 115 mm ML, 40° 18'S, 39° 12'W. Drawings from Voss, et al., 1998. Right pair - 92 mm ML, off Cape Town, South Africa at 38°S, 18°E. Dotted lines indicate areas without skin. Drawings slightly modified from Lipinski, 1993.

Distribution

Geographical distribution

Histioteuthis atlantica exhibits a circumglobal southern distribution. Its distribution strongly overlaps with the more southern distribution of its close relative H. eltaninae. Histioteuthis atlantica is regularly found over ocean basins, shelf and plateau areas. (Voss, et al., 1998)

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Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Figure. Chart or the geographical distribution of H. atlantica. Modified from Voss, et al., 1998.

References

Lipinski, M.R. 1993.Description of mature males of the histioteuthid cephalopod Histioteuthis atlantica (Hoyle, 1885) (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) from the south Atlantic ocean. South African Joural of Marine Science, 13: 51-62.

Voss, N. A. 1969. A monograph of the Cephalopoda of the North Atlantic: The family Histioteuthidae. Bull. Mar. Sci., 19: 713-867.

Voss, N.A., K. N. Nesis, P. G. Rodhouse. 1998. The cephalopod family Histioteuthidae (Oegopsida): Systematics, biology, and biogeography. Smithson. Contr. Zool., 586(2): 293-372.

Title Illustrations
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Scientific Name Histioteuthis atlantica
Location 43° 45''S, 174° 07''W
Reference from Voss, N. A. 1969. A monograph of the Cephalopoda of the North Atlantic: The family Histioteuthidae. Bull. Mar. Sci. 19:713-867. printed with permission.
Sex Male
View ventral
Size 53 mm ML
Copyright © 1969 Bulletin of Marine Science
Scientific Name Histioteuthis atlantica
Comments Most of the chromatophores in the skin of this squid were contracted when the photograph was taken. This squid appears silvery, a condition that is unusual in histioteuthids.
Specimen Condition Fresh
View Ventral
Copyright © E. S. McSweeny
About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA

Page: Tree of Life Histioteuthis atlantica (Hoyle 1885). Authored by Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Young, Richard E. and Michael Vecchione. 2017. Histioteuthis atlantica (Hoyle 1885). Version 10 October 2017 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Histioteuthis_atlantica/19789/2017.10.10 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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