New Subfamily
New Genus
Richard E. Young, Caroline Sanchez, and Valerie Allain![taxon links](/Public/treeImages/New_Genus.png?x=-843734511)
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close boxIntroduction
Three specimens belonging to two distinct species, from the stomach of the fish Alepisaurus ferox, superficially look like sepiolids but lack several of the most basic features of that family and of the Sepioidea. We place these in a new subfamily but are uncertain how they fit into the phylogeny of the Sepiolidae or Sepiolida. A brief discussion of the relationships of the NewSubFamily is found on the Sepiolidae page.
Diagnosis
Sepiolid-like cephalopods:
- without lateral funnel adductor muscles.
- without secondary eyelids.
Characteristics
- Arms
- Arms without protective membranes or trabeculae.
- Large arm suckers globular in shape and with circularis muscle.
- Dorsal 6 arms connected by web; web deepest between arms III and IV.
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new windowFigure. Venral view of suckers 3-6, arm III of New Species B, showing globular shape of suckers with small, smooth orifices. Arrow points to circularis muscle (shiny band). Photograph by R. Young.
- Tentacles
- Tentacular clubs small, with suckers only on distal part of club and in two series.
- Tentacular club keel restricted to non-sucker bearing region of club; keel curved inward.
- Protective membranes absent.
- Tentacular stalks long and very slender.
- Buccal connectives
- Attachments of ventral buccal connectives could not be determined.
- Head
- Eyes with corneas.
- Eyes without secondary eyelids.
- Funnel
- Funnel without lateral funnel adductor muscles.
- Funnel without funnel valve (uncertain in species A).
- Mantle
- Stellate ganglia broadly separated; interstellate connective absent.
- Mantle component of the funnel locking-apparatus reaches anterior mantle margin.
- Anterior mantle margin does not protrude at points of locking-apparatuses.
- Fins
- Fins broadly separated posteriorly.
- Fins with anterior and posterior lobes.
- Photophores
- Photophores absent.
- Gladius
- Gladius Y-shaped. Gladius extremely thin and delicate. Shell sac appears to be wider than gladius at anterior end.
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new windowFigure. Dorsal view of New Species B with a drawing showing the approximate positions of the gladius (blue) and basal pockets (red). The basal pockets are entirely separate from the shell sac. Interpretation from a damaged gladius taken from a single specimen. Illustration by R. Young.
- Viscera
- Gills apparently without branchial canal*.
- Ventral mantle adductor muscle present but very reduced. Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Figure. Ventral view of mantle cavity of New Species A. Arrows point to the ventral median adductor muscle located here at the leading edge of the ventral mantle septum and continuing onto the visceral mass passing to either side of the anus.
Comments
The gills were examined in the larger specimen and a branchial canal could not be detected. However, in such a small gill that is not in perfect condition, a branchial canal, if present would be very hard to detect. therefore, this character needs confirmation.
Distribution
Specimens taken from the stomach of Alepisaurus ferox captured within the EEZ of New Caledonia.
Title Illustrations
![Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window](/tree/img/magnify.gif)
Scientific Name | NewSpeciesA |
---|---|
Location | Off New Caledonia |
Specimen Condition | Preserved |
Sex | Male |
Life Cycle Stage | Mature |
View | Ventral |
Size | 9.5 mm ML |
Image Use |
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Copyright |
©
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About This Page
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia
Page copyright © 2019 , , and
Page: Tree of Life
New Subfamily. New Genus.
Authored by
Richard E. Young, Caroline Sanchez, and Valerie Allain.
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- First online 24 November 2006
- Content changed 24 November 2006
Citing this page:
Young, Richard E., Caroline Sanchez, and Valerie Allain. 2006. New Subfamily. New Genus. Version 24 November 2006 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/New_Genus/77759/2006.11.24 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/