Grimpoteuthis tuftsi: Description Continued

1. Digestive system
   1. Esophagus covered by dark purple tissue.
   2. Stomach and spiral caecum equal in size.
   3. Posterior salivary glands absent.
   4. Intestine short.
   

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   Figure. Side view of the digestive tract of G. tuftsi, male, 72 mm ML. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy, 1990.

2. Male reproductive tract
   1. Male reproductive tract illustrated but not described.
   

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   Figure. Male reproductive tract of G. tuftsi, 72 mm ML. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy, 1990.

3. Female reproductive tract
   1. Proximal oviduct short; distal oviduct long.
   2. Aperature of oviduct flared with plicate collar.
   3. Oviducal gland finely plicate.
   

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   Figure. Female reproductive tract of G. tuftsi, 65 mm ML. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy, 1990.

4. Eyes
   1. Large.
      
      
5. Gills
   1. Half orange.
   2. 7-8 primary lamellae.
   

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   Figure. "Top" view of gill of G. tuftsi, holotype, 101 mm ML. Photograph by R. Young.

6. Beaks
   1. Beaks illustrated but not described.
   

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   Figure. Side view of beaks of G. tuftsi. Left - Upper beak. Right - Lower beak. Drawings from Voss and Pearcy, 1990.

7. Radula
   1. Radula with great individual variation. Radulas from three different octopods illustrated here.
   

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   Figure. Radula, Beginning at top: Male, 72 mm ML; male, 93 mm ML; female, 65 mm ML. Drawings modified from Voss and Pearcy, 1990.

8. Pigmentation
   1. Mantle and head light brownish-purple.
   2. Posterior borders of fins dark purple.
   3. Aboral web and arms darkish purple.
   4. Oral web and arms dark purple with lighter colored suckers and cirri.
      
      
9. Measurements
   1. Measurements and counts can be found here.

Comments

References

Voss, G. L. and W. G. Pearcy. 1990. Deep-water octopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) of the Northeastern Pacific. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 47: 47-94.