Opisthoteuthis medusoides
Richard E. Young and Michael VecchioneIntroduction
O. medusoides was described from two small individuals (juveniles). They seemed to have little or no pigment. Because of this and the shape of the body they were given the name medusoides. A redescription of this species is badly needed.
Characteristics
- Arms
- Two greatly enlarged suckers (suckers 19 and 20) at start of distal half of arms IV.
- Arms 4.5 cm in length
- Eyes
- Distance between eye openings - 27.5 mm.
- Distance between eye openings - 27.5 mm.
- Pigmentation
- Aboral surfaces probably light-colored and transparent.
- Oral face of web brown, arms light.
Comments
O. medusoides differs from all members of the genus (where males are known) in having greatly enlarged distal field suckers only on arms IV. Very few characters were described in the original description.
References
Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden. Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition, "Valdivia" 1898-1899, 18: 1-522 + Atlas.
About This Page
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA
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- First online 13 May 2003
Citing this page:
Young, Richard E. and Michael Vecchione. 2003. Opisthoteuthis medusoides http://tolweb.org/Opisthoteuthis_medusoides/20162/2003.05.13 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
. Version 13 May 2003 (under construction).