Note

Chiroteuthis calyx: Description continued

Richard E. Young and Clyde F. E. Roper
  1. Arms
    1. Arms I 80-100% of ML.
    2. Arms III 115-152% of ML
    3. Arms IV 167-210% 0f ML
    4. Largest suckers with nearly smooth rings, proximal suckers with 18-20 separate, truncate teeth on distal 2/3 of ring.
    5. Largest suckers globular; largest suckers on arms III more than three times diameter of corresponding arm IV suckers.
      6. 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. Oral views of the inner rings of arm and tentacle suckers of C. calyx, 60 mm ML: A - Large sucker from arm I (row 6); B - Large sucker from arm III (row 13); C - Large sucker from arm II (row 10); D - Large sucker from arm IV (row 1). Relative sucker sizes maintained. Drawings from Young, 1972.

  2. Tentacular clubs
    1. Club length 57-67% of ML.
    2. Suckers with 11-14 pointed teeth, with bases in contact, over distal 1/2-3/4 of ring; central tooth enlarged.
    3. Sucker stalks in two distinct parts; stalks of suckers in lateral series much longer than those in medial series.
    4. Protective membranes
      1. Membranes in two distinct sets of about equal lengths, proximal set slightly broader.
      2. Proximal set with separate trabeculae (approx. 17), each split distally into two or three parts, except for initial one or two.
      3. Distal set with about 18 single, separate trabeculae.
      5. 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 clubs of C. calyx: A - Aboral view of  club, 60 mm ML. Note arrangement of trabeculae in the proximal section of the protective membrane and the photophores embedded in the midline of the club. B - Suckers with stalks (holotype, 60 mm ML). Note the larger size of the lateral sucker stalk, the short, well-defined pleates (dark stripes), and the two parts to the stalk (thick basal section terminating in the pleates and a narrow distal section); C - Oral view of club, 60 mm ML. Drawings from Young, 1972.

  3. Head
    1. Head length ca. 40% of ML.
  4. Funnel
    1. Tragus and antitragus of the funnel-locking apparatus present, tragus much larger.
      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. Frontal view of funnel locking-apparatus of C. calyx, 60 mm ML. Drawing from Young (1972).

  5. Fins
    1. Fin length ca. 40% of ML.
    2. Fin width ca. 40% of ML.
  6. Photophores
    1. Eyeball: lateral series = stripe; medial series = stripe; intermediate series = one large round anterior, one large round posterior and one small round offset slightly medially near anterior photophore.
      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 view of the eyeball of C. calyx, holotype, 60 mm ML. Arrows point to the three circular and two strip photophores; posterior is at the right in the drawing. Drawing from Young (1972).

    2. Viscera: two on ink sac.
    3. Club-tip photophore small and with small papilla.
    4. 12 organs embedded in aboral surface of club.
    5. Series of large, round photophores on Arms IV.
    6. Stalk pad-like photophores become embedded ca. one club length proximal to club.

  7. Pigmentation
    1. Club-tip photophore surrounded by dark epithelial pigment.
    2. Remaining club pigment in chromatophore organs.
    3. Club sucker stalks pleated, otherwise stalks unpigmented.
    4. Buccal membrane virtually unpigmented except for few scattered chromatophores.
    5. Olfactory organ unpigmented.
About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., USA

Page: Tree of Life Chiroteuthis calyx: Description continued Authored by Richard E. Young and Clyde F. E. Roper. 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.

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