Histioteuthis celetaria (Voss 1960)

Introduction

Characteristics

1. Photophores
   1. Basal Row with 9 photophores and a single sawtooth (see arrow in photograph at right).
   image info

   Figure. Ventral view of the posterior margin of the head of H. celetaria, 39 mm ML, NMNH specimen, preserved. Photograph by R. Young.

2. Club suckers
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   Figure. Oral view of a club sucker of H. celetaria, ventral series, holotype. Drawing from Voss (1969, Fig.15b).

   1. Suckers of 3 ventral-marginal rows of manus with broad, asymmetrical outer rings.
   2. Central suckers of manus only slightly enlarged.
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   Figure. Oral view of the left tentacular club of H. celetaria, holotype. Drawing from Voss (1969, Fig.15e).

Comments

Species of the celetaria-group are characterized by:

1. Head photophores:
   1. Type 1b pattern on head.
   2. Basal Row of head with 9 or 10 photophores.
   3. Right Basal Series of head absent.
   4. Arms IV with 3 longitudinal series on arm base (drawing below).
      image info
      Figure. Ventral view of right arm IV, holotype, 39 mm ML, female. Drawing from Voss (1969, Fig.15f).
   5. Most species with separate group of 4-8 compound photophores on ends of arms IV (drawing above) (Voss, et al., 1998). Apparently this feature is absent in H. inermis.
   6. Compound photophores of large, uniform size and evenly spaced on anterior 2/3 of ventral mantle.
2. Tubercles
   1. Absent.

The species differ in the following manner:

With the exception of the analysis of head photophores and the inclusion of H. inermis in this species group, most of the information presented here is from Voss (1969) and Voss, et al . (1998)

Nomenclature

Life History

Single mature female (258 mm ML) and male (87 mm ML) known; mature eggs are 1.9 mm in diameter (Voss, et al, 1998). The smallest specimen illustrated is a 10.3 mm subadult. Paralarvae are unknown.

image info

Figure. Ventral view of young H. celetaria from the stomach of Alepisaurus ferox taken off Madeira, 10.3 mm ML. Drawing from Voss, 1969 (Fig. 15d).

Distribution

Geographical distribution

Type locality:Northwestern Atlantic, 32°10'N,64° 45'W. H. celetaria occupies tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. However, it appears to be absent from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (Voss et al., 1998).

image info

Figure. Distribution chart of H. celetaria modified from Voss, et al. (1998).

References

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.