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Galiteuthis Joubin, 1898

Richard E. Young and Katharina M. Mangold (1922-2003)
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Galiteuthis contains five recognized species, but Voss, et al. (1992) suggests that an additional one or two species exist.

taxon links [up-->]Galiteuthis phyllura [up-->]Galiteuthis glacialis [up-->]Galiteuthis armata [up-->]Galiteuthis pacifica [down<--]Taoniinae Interpreting the tree
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Containing group: Taoniinae

Introduction

Some species, at least, of Galiteuthis reach a large size of 660 mm ML (Nesis, 1982, suggests that they may reach a size of 2.7 m ML). Species are easily recognized by the hooks on the tentacular clubs while lacking hooks on the arms, and the long, slender, terminal fins.

Brief diagnosis:

A taoniin ...

Characteristics

  1. Tentacles
    1. Tentacular clubs with large hooks.*
    2. Clubs with equally developed dorsal and ventral protective membranes; club keels absent.
    3. Two series of suckers and pads on distal 2/3 to 3/4 of tentacular stalk.
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      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      Figure. Oral view of tentacular club of G. phyllura, 359 mm ML. Drawing from Young (1972).

  2. Funnel
    1. Funnel valve absent.
    2. Funnel organ: Dorsal pad with three flattened papillae.

  3. Mantle
    1. Tubercles present or absent at the funnel-mantle fusion depending on species.

  4. Fins
    1. Fins lanceolate, terminal (see title illustration); anterior insertion on shell sac.

  5. Photophores
    1. Two ocular photophores: Medial photophore with crescent-shaped photogenetic region; Lateral photophore with short, slightly curved photogenetic region that lies within the concavity of the first.
    2. Arm tip photophores absent.
      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. Lateral (left) and ventral (right) views of ocular photophores of G. glacialis, 333 mm ML. Drawing from Voss (1980, p. 393).

*Unusual within family, shared only with Mesonychoteuthis (but see condition in Taonius).

Comments

The distinctive hooks of the tentacular clubs first appear at 35-60 mm ML (Voss, et al., 1992). Characteristics are from Voss (1980).

Distribution

Members of this genus are found circumglobally in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean (Nesis, 1982).

References

Nesis, K. N. 1982/87. 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.

Voss, N. A. 1980. A generic revision of the Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda; Oegopsida). Bull. Mar. Sci., 30: 365-412.

Voss N. A., S. J. Stephen and Zh. Dong 1992. Family Cranchiidae Prosch, 1849. Smithson. Contr. Zool., 513: 187-210.

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

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Galiteuthis armata
Location Central North Atlantic
Acknowledgements Photograph taken on the MarEco cruise of the R/V G.O. SARS
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
View Side
Size 240 mm ML
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 2004
Scientific Name Galiteuthis phyllura
Location Off California
Reference Young, R. E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the seas off Southern California. Smithson. Contr. Zool., 97: 1-159.
Size 170 mm ML
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 1972
About This Page
Drawings from Voss (1980) printed with the Permission of the Bulletin of Marine Science.


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

Katharina M. Mangold (1922-2003)
Laboratoire Arago, Banyuls-Sur-Mer, France

Page: Tree of Life Galiteuthis Joubin, 1898. Authored by Richard E. Young and Katharina M. Mangold (1922-2003). 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 Katharina M. Mangold (1922-2003). 2011. Galiteuthis Joubin, 1898. Version 22 November 2011 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Galiteuthis/19557/2011.11.22 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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