Taoniinae
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close boxIntroduction
The Taoniinae is much more diverse in genera and species than the Cranchiinae.
Diagnosis
A cranchiid ...
- without cartilagenous tubercules on mantle except, occasionally, at funnel and nuchal locking points.
- with one to three photophores of very different sizes and shapes on eyes.
Characteristics
- Arms
- Arms IV not hectocotylized in males.
- Arms IV not hectocotylized in males.
- Head
- Eyes on stalks in paralarvae and in some juveniles.
- Eyes on stalks in paralarvae and in some juveniles.
- Funnel
- Funnel not fused to head laterally.
- Funnel not fused to head laterally.
- Mantle.
- Cartilagenous strips on mantle absent. Cartilagenous tubercules, when present, occur only at funnel and nuchal locking-points.
- Cartilagenous strips on mantle absent. Cartilagenous tubercules, when present, occur only at funnel and nuchal locking-points.
- Photophores
- Eyes with one to three photophores of very different sizes and shapes.
- Eyes with one to three photophores of very different sizes and shapes.
- Viscera
- Stomach larger than caecum.
image info Figure. Anterolateral view of a paralarva of Megalocranchia fisheri, Hawaiian waters. Stalked eyes in which the eye and optic lobe are separated from the brain by a long optic stalk, is unique to the Cranchiidae and are present in young stages of virtually all taoniins. Photograph by R. Young.
- Stomach larger than caecum.
| Fins small, separate, paddle-like | Short, lanceolate fins inserting on broadest point on gladius | Moderate, lanceolate fins inserting on mantle | Long, lanceolate, terminal fins | Tubular eyes in juveniles | Hooks or hook-like suckers on clubs | Three photophores on eyeball | Photophores on viscera | Locking apparatus on tentacle stalk: suckers in 4 series. Distally only* | |
| Bathothauma | Y | Y* | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicocranchia | Y | ||||||||
| Sandalops | Y | Y | |||||||
| Liguriella | Y | ||||||||
| Mesonychoteuthis | Y | ||||||||
| Galiteuthis | Y | Y | |||||||
| Taonius | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
| Teuthowenia | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
| Megalocranchia | Y | Y* | |||||||
| Egea | Y |
Title Illustrations
| 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 |
| Copyright | © 2004 Richard E. Young |
