Abraliopsis felis (McGowan and Okutani 1968)

Introduction

A. felis is the only cool-temperate species in the genus Abraliopsis. It is found in the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition zone and the California Current.

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Figure. Ventral view of A. felis, 41 mm ML. Drawing from Young (1972).

Characteristics

1. Tentacle clubs
   1. Two series of hooks on manus; ventral hooks moderately larger (in a relative sense) than dorsal hooks.
   2. Carpal flap absent; aboral keel short, narrow.
      
      

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      Figure. Oral view of the tentacular club of A. felis, 40 mm ML, off Southern California. Drawing from Young (1972).

2. Arms
   1. Arms IV intermediate in lenght; ALI IV = 40-65.
   2. Arms with 12 to 22 hooks and 12-22 suckers (excl. arm IV).
      
      
3. Hectocotylus
   1. Hectocotylus with two subequal-sized offset flaps: proximal flap on ventral margin, distal flap on dorsal margin.
      
      

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      Figure. Oral view of arms IV of A. felis, 41 mm ML, off Southern California. Note that unlike members of the subgenus Pfefferiteuthis, the left (lower) arm is unmodified. Drawing from Young (1972).

4. Head
   
   1. Beaks: Descriptions can be found here: Lower beak; upper beak.
      
      
5. Integumental Photophores
   1. Ventral mantle and head with scattered arrangement of integumental organs.

Comments

A. felis is the only species, with the possible exception of A. hoylei, characterized by having a scattered arrangement of integument photophores and lacking the carpal flap.

Distribution

Vertical Distribution

In the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition zone, this species were occurred abundantly between 0-50m during night.

Geographical Distribution

A. felis is the only cool-temperate species in the genus Abraliopsis. Its distribution extends from the northern Northwest Pacific at 145° E along the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition zone, eastward to northwestern coast of America, and in the California Current southward to northern Baja California (Young, 1972).

References

Tsuchiya, K. 1993. Distribution and zoogeography of the family Enoploteuthidae in the Northwest Pacific. In: Okutani, T., O’Dor, R. K. and Kubodera, T. (eds.) 1993. Recent advances in fisheries biology (Tokai University Press. Tokyo). pp. 571-585.

Okutani, T. and McGowan, J.A. 1969. Systematics, Distribution, and abundance ofthe epiplanktonic squid (Cephalopoda, Decapoda) larvae of the California Current. Bull. Scripps Inst. Oceanogr., 14:1-90.

Young, R.E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the sea off southern California. Smiths. Contr. Zool., 97:1-159.