Chiroteuthis spoeli Holotype Description Continued

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Figure. Dorsal view of the holotype of C. spoeli. Photograph by R. Young.

1. Photophores
   1. Eyeball- Two series: lateral series (7 organs) = 1+5+1; medial series (seven organs) = 1+5+1.
   2. Viscera: two, large photophores.
   3. Club-tip photophore small, with papilla.
   4. One embedded in aboral surface of club at or just distal to proximal end of club (opposite trabecula 1 or 2).
   

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   Figure. Photophores of C. spoeli. Left - Ventral view of occular photophores. Middle - Ventral view of the visceral photophores. Right - Aboral view of club-tip photophore. Drawings from Salcedo-Vargas (1996).
   

2. Pigmentation
   1. Distal photophore with chromatophores only.
   2. Proximal and middle sections of club with epithelial pigment but absent on oral surface of distal section while present on aboral surface in proximal half.
   3. Club sucker stalks with epithelial pigmentation and strongly pleated.
   4. Buccal membrane unpigmented.
   5. Olfactory organ with chromatophores on stalk and head.
      
3. Arms
   1. Arms I 51-59% of ML
   2. Arms III 107-117% of ML
   3. Arms IV 178-194% 0f ML
   4. Largest arm III suckers with 8-14 broad, rounded teeth, fused laterally; more distal suckers with thin blunt teeth; more proximal suckers with broader, rounded teeth.
   5. Largest suckers globular.
   

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   Figure. Suckers of C. spoeli. Left - Oral-distal view of a large arm III sucker, holotype. Photograph by R. Young. Middle - Oral view of large arm III sucker. Right - Oral view of a club sucker. Drawings from Salcedo-Vargas (1996).
   

4. Tentacular clubs
   1. Club length 47-71% of ML
   2. Suckers with 5-7 pointed teeth over distal half of ring; no enlarged central tooth.
      1. Sucker stalks- two distinct parts; stalks of lateral and medial suckers about equal in length.
      

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      Figure. Oral view of tentacular sucker and stalk of C. spoeli. Drawing from Salcedo-Vargas (1996).
      

   3. Protective membranes
      1. Membranes in three distinctive sets with intermediate set broadest.
      2. Proximal set with ca. 18-19 slender, separate trabeculae (about 25% of club length).
      3. Intermediate set without distinct trabeculae (forms fleshy membrane) but opposite ca. 16 rows of suckers (about 35% of CL).
      4. Distal set with slender, separate, trabeculae opposite 23 rows of suckers (about 35% of CL).
         

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         Figure. Oral view of the tentacular club of C. spoeli. Drawing from Salcedo-Vargas (1996).

5. Head
   1. Head length 48-50% of ML.
      
6. Funnel
   1. Funnel-locking apparatus with broad, protruding tragus and broad, well-developed antitragus; both overhang.
   

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   Figure. Frontal view of the funnel locking-apparatus of C. spoeli. Drawing from Salcedo-Vargas (1996).

Comments

Description is from Salcedo-Vargas (1996) and re-examination of the holotype. Clubs of the holotype are stretched and distorted; counts of trabeculae are approximate.

References

Salcedo-Vargas, M. A. 1996. Cephalopods from the Netherlands Indian Ocean Programme (NIOP) - I. Chiroteuthis spoeli, n. spec. and Chiroteuthis picteti somaliensis n. subspec. Beaufortia, 46: 11-26.