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Promachoteuthis sulcus Young, Vecchione and Roper, 2007

Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione
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Containing group: Promachoteuthidae

Introduction

Promachoteuthis sulcus (first known as Promachoteuthis sp. C on this page) is known from a single, small (25 mm ML, sex unknown) but distinctive individual from great depths in the south Atlantic Ocean.

Brief diagnosis:

A promachoteuthid...

Characteristics

  1. Arms
    1. Arm suckers much larger than club suckers.
    2. Suckers in three series on all arms.
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      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      Figure. Oral view of brachial crown of P. sulcus, holotype. Photograph by R. Young.

  2. Tentacles
    1. At base tentacle thick, about 2x diameter of arm III.
    2. Tentacle stalk with deep groove on aboral surface.
    3. Club suckers tiny (0.014 mm diam), in numerous irregular rows.
    4. Sucker-bearing club recessed at tapering, proximal end; surrounding lateral and aboral tissue with thick folds.
    5. Tentacles heavily pigmented at base but not forming a well-defined band.
      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. Tentacular club of P. sulcus, holotype, preserved. Top - Oral view of the distal portion of the club, holotype. Bottom - Oral view of the proximal portion of the tentacular club. Photographs by R. Young.

  3. Head
    1. Head fused to mantle in nuchal region.
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      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      Figure. Side view of the head and anterior mantle of P. sulcus showing nuchal fusion. Photograph by R. Young.

  4. Fins
    1. Fins terminal with anterior and posterior lobes. Each fin approximately circular in outline.
    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 and dorsal views of the fins of P. sulcus. Photograph.

Comments

More details of the description of P. sulcus can be found here.

Clubs were slightly abraided so the number of suckers in a transverse series could not be determined. The largest number of those present was 12 suckers across. The specimen is an immature female. The mantle was cut open prior to fixation by a previous investigator. The label in the specimen jar states that the ML is 40 mm; the squid currently measures 25 mm ML.

Distribution

Type locality: 36°49'S, 12°17'W off Tristan Da Cunha, south Atlantic Ocean. Captured from WALTHER HERWIG at 1750-2000 m depth (open net).

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Promachoteuthis sulcus
Location South Atlantic: 37?S, 12?W
Comments Holotype
Creator Keiko Hiratsuka Moore
Acknowledgements National Marine Fisheries Service
View Dorsal and ventral
Size 25 mm ML
Collection NMNH 730702
Type Holotype
Copyright ©
Scientific Name Promachoteuthis sulcus
Location South Atlantic: 37?S, 12?W
Specimen Condition Preserved
Sex Female
Life Cycle Stage Immature
View Ventrolateral
Size 25 mm ML
Collection NMNH 730702
Type Holotype
Copyright © 2003 Richard E. Young
About This Page

Richard E. Young
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


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

Citing this page:

Young, Richard E. and Vecchione, Michael. 2007. Promachoteuthis sulcus Young, Vecchione and Roper, 2007. Version 30 May 2007. http://tolweb.org/Promachoteuthis_sulcus/19531/2007.05.30 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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Promachoteuthis sulcus

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