Stauroteuthis
| Stauroteuthis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Stauroteuthis syrtensis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Stauroteuthidae Grimpe, 1916 |
| Genus: | Stauroteuthis Verrill, 1879 |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Chunioteuthis Grimpe, 1916 | |
Stauroteuthis is a genus of deepwater octopus, a cephalopod mollusk. This is the only genus in the family Stauroteuthidae, and only two species have been described in this genus.
The organisms live below 700 m (2,300 ft) water depth; although sometimes found as deep as 4 km (2.5 mi) underwater, they generally live at a water depth of around 2 km (1.2 mi).[1] They do not possess a radula.[1]
The stauroteuthids have the distinction of being one of the few bioluminescent octopuses; some of the muscle cells that control the suckers in most species have been replaced with photophores which are believed to fool prey by directing them towards the mouth.[2]
Species
- Stauroteuthis gilchristi is only known from two localities in the south Atlantic; these two localities may even represent different species.[1][3]
- Stauroteuthis syrtensis is widespread in the North Atlantic.[4] The population size of S. syrtensis is unknown.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 Collins, M. A.; Henriques, C. (2000). "A revision of the family Stauroteuthidae (Octopoda: Cirrata) with redescriptions of Stauroteuthis syrtensis and S. gilchristi". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 80 (4): 685. doi:10.1017/S0025315400002514.
- ↑ Johnsen, S.; E.J. Balser; E.C. Fisher; E.A. Widder (1999). "Bioluminescence in the deep-sea cirrate octopod Stauroteuthis syrtensis Verrill (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)" (PDF). The Biological Bulletin. 197 (1): 26–39. doi:10.2307/1542994.
- ↑ Stauroteuthis gilchristi. Tree of Life web project.
- ↑ Stauroteuthis syrtensis. Tree of Life web project.
- ↑ Stauroteuthis syrtensis Verrill, 1879. Encyclopedia of Life.
External links
- Tree of Life website gives information about the classification of cephalopod groups
- Stauroteuthidae discussion forum at TONMO.com
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