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The genus contains the following 19 nominal species.

Containing group: Enoploteuthidae

Introduction

These small enoploteuthids are most easily recognized by the absence of large, black photophores on the tips of arms IV (found in Abraliopsis and Watasenia) and by the absence of a broad tail posterior to the fins (found in Enoploteuthis). Some species are land-associated as members of the mesopelagic-boundary fauna.

Characteristics

From Young, et al., 1998.

1. Arms
   1. Suckers present distally on Arms IV.
2. Tentacles
   1. Manus of club with one series of hooks; two series of suckers.
3. Buccal crown
   1. Typical chromatophores on oral surfaces.
4. Photophores
   1. Enlarged organs on tips of arms IV generally absent; if present, not covered by black chromatophores.
   2. Five to twelve organs on each eye.
   3. Complex organs of integument without red-colored filters.

Comments

In life, the integumental photophores have a characteristic appearance. The photo shows the three types of integumental photophores. The "lensed" photophore is in the lower left with a blue color and white ring. The "simple" photophore is the small violet-colored one uppermost toward the right. The "complex" photophores are the three remaining with a central green color and small "satellite" green-color points. Often these photophores will appear blue rather than green (see Young and Arnold, 1982). The black dots are chromatophores.

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

The genus is often divided into a number of subgenera (see Nesis, 1982; Tsuchiya and Okutani, 1988). However, a cladistic analysis of subgenera or species has not been attempted.

References

Nesis, K. N. 1982. Abridged key to the cephalopod mollusks of the world's ocean. 385+ii pp. Light and Food Industry Publishing House, Moscow. (In Russian.). Translated into English by B. S. Levitov, ed. by L. A. Burgess (1987), Cephalopods of the world. T. F. H. Publications, Neptune City, NJ, 351pp.

Tsuchiya, K. and T. Okutani. 1988. Subgenera of Enoploteuthis, Abralia and Abraliopsis of the squid family Enoploteuthidae (Cephalopoda, Oegopsida). Bulletin of the National Science Museum, Tokyo (series A) 14: 119-136.

Young, R. E. and J. M. Arnold. 1982. The functional morphology of a ventral photophore from the mesopelagic squid, Abralia trigonura. Malacologia 23: 135-183.

Young, R. E., L. A. Burgess, C. F. E. Roper, M. J. Sweeney and S. J. Stephen. 1998. Classification of the Enoploteuthidae, Pyroteuthidae and Ancistrocheiridae. Smithsonian Contr. to Zoology, No. 586.