Note

Chiroteuthis sp. B2 Description

Richard E. Young and Clyde F. E. Roper
  1. Arms
    1. Arms I 60% of ML
    2. Arms III 125% of ML
    3. Arms IV 200% 0f ML
    4. Largest with ca. 25 sharply pointed teeth. Teeth triangular distally becoming saw-toothed laterally; proximal 1/5 of sucker ring smooth.
    5. Largest suckers not globular.
  2. Tentacular clubs
    1. Club length 65% of ML
    2. Club suckers with 8 large, elongate, pointed teeth over distal 3/5 of ring; no enlarged central tooth.
    3. Sucker stalks in two distinct parts; each basal portion with small flag; stalks of lateral and medial suckers about equal in length.
    4. 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 view of club sucker and stalk of Chiroteuthis sp. B2. Note division of stalk and lack of pleats. Drawing by J. R. Schroeder.

      Scanning electron micrographs of the arm and club suckers can be found here

    5. Protective membranes
      1. Membranes in three distinctive sets with intermediate set broadest.
      2. Proximal set with 32 slender, separate trabeculae (about 30% of club length).
      3. Intermediate set without distinct trabeculae (forms fleshy membrane) but opposite 13 rows of suckers (about 25-30% of CL).
      4. Distal set with slender separate, trabeculae opposite 31 rows of suckers (about 40-45% of CL).
      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. Oral view of the central portion of tentacular club of Chiroteuthis sp. B2, 130 mm ML. Note the fusion of the trabeculae. Drawing by J. R. Schroeder.

  3. Head
    1. Head length 40% of ML.
  4. Funnel
    1. Funnel-locking apparatus with broad, protruding antitragus and hook-like tragus.
    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 views of the funnel/mantle locking-apparatus of Chiroteuthis sp. B2, 130 mm ML. Left -  Funnel component. Right - Mantle component. Drawing by J. R. Schroeder.

  5. Fins
    1. Fin length 40-45% of ML; fin width 40-45% of ML.
  6. Photophores
    1. Eyeball - Two series of circular organs: lateral series (6 organs) = 1+4+1; medial series (5 or 6 organs) = 1+(3)4+1; terminal organs slightly larger than central organs.
    2. Viscera: two, large photophores.
    3. Club-tip photophore small, with long papilla.
    4. One embedded photophore on aboral surface of club opposite trabecula number 9 from proximal end of club.
    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 photophores of Chiroteuthis sp. B2, 130 m ML, somewhat damaged. Drawing by J. R. Schroeder.

  7. Pigmentation
    1. Club-tip photophore with chromatophore organs only (i.e., epithelial pigmentation absent).
    2. Club pigmentation in epithelial cells rather than chromatophore organs except at distal tip.
    3. Sucker stalks with light pigmentation, becoming less pigmented distally; without pleats.
    4. Buccal membrane unpigmented.
    5. Olfactory organ with chromatophores on stalk only.
    6. Silvery tissue on oral surface beneath epidermal pigmentation.
    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. Aboral view of club-tip photophore of Chiroteuthis sp. B2, 130 mm ML. Note large papilla and discontinuity (band) on photophore. Drawing by J. R. Schroeder.

About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., USA

Page: Tree of Life Chiroteuthis sp. B2 Description 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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Chiroteuthis sp. B2

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