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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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      Figure. Oral view of brachial crown of P. sulcus, holotype. The squid seems to have a set of dentures. The "dentures" are the circular, folded lips, of which only the upper and lower portions can be seen. The lips surround the beaks which are not visible in this photograph. 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.
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      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).

References

Young, R. E., M. Vecchione and C. F. E. Roper. 2007. A new genus and three new species of decapodiform cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Rev. Fish. Biol. Fisheries, 17: 353-365.

Title Illustrations
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Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
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
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 2003
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
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
Copyright ©
About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


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

Page: Tree of Life Promachoteuthis sulcus Young, Vecchione and Roper, 2007. Authored by Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Young, Richard E. and Michael Vecchione. 2007. Promachoteuthis sulcus Young, Vecchione and Roper, 2007. Version 15 November 2007. http://tolweb.org/Promachoteuthis_sulcus/19531/2007.11.15 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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