Histioteuthis eltaninae
Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione
Introduction
H. eltaninae has a circumglobal distribution in subantarctic waters where it is the most common histioteuthid taken. The largest male known is 105 mm ML and the largest female, 98 mm ML.
Characteristics
- Photophores
- Large, compound photophores without (?) posteriorly directed reflectors.
- Arms IV with 3 longitudinal series on arm base.
- Terminal group of large photophores on arms absent.
Comments
More details of the description can be found here.Species of the reversa-group are distinguished by the following characters:
- Compound photophores
- Large and small (see white arrows in photograph above) photophores intermixed on ventral surface of mantle .
- 18 photophores (1 large and 1 small) around right eyelid.
- Beak
- Weakly developed median ridge on each lateral wall.
- Tubercles
- Absent.
H. eltaninae is most easily separated from other members of the reversa group by (1) the arrangements of photophores on arms IV (4 series in H. atlantica and H. reversa but 3 series in H. eltaninae) and (2) from H atlantica by the absence of special arm-tip photophores and from H. reversa by the long connective complex in their spermatophores. If the dorsal (i.e., the 4th series) series of photophores in H. reversa has been lost due to damage, the number of photophores in the third series will separate the species: H. reversa has 5-8 while H. eltaninae has 2 or 3 (Voss, 1969).
We examined the mantle photophores of the holotype for the presence of posterior reflectors. Although the tissue was badly faded, no trace of the reflector could be found. Except for data on the posterior reflector on compound photophores, the above information is from Voss (1969) and Voss, et al. (1998).
Life History
Males mature at 66-105 mm ML. Size at maturity in females is unknown. Largest known female is 98 mm ML. (Data from Voss, et al., 1998)
Distribution
Geographical distribution
Type locality: 40° 05'S, 149° 55'W. The northern distributional boundary of H. eltaninae is the region of the Southern Subtropical Convergence. In some areas it strongly overlaps the distribution of its close relative H. atlantica (Voss, et al., 1998).
Figure. Distribution chart of H. eltaninae. Chart modified from Voss, et al. (1998).
References
Voss, N. A. 1969. A monograph of the Cephalopoda of the North Atlantic: The family Histioteuthidae. Bull. Mar. Sci., 19: 713-867.
Voss, N.A., K. N. Nesis, P. G. Rodhouse. 1998. The cephalopod family Histioteuthidae (Oegopsida): Systematics, biology, and biogeography. Smithson. Contr. Zool., 586(2): 293-372.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Histioteuthis eltaninae, Histioteuthis eltaninae (2) |
|---|---|
| Reference | from Voss, N. A. 1969. A monograph of the Cephalopoda of the North Atlantic: The family Histioteuthidae. Bull. Mar. Sci. 19:713-867. printed with permission |
| Sex | f, f (2) |
| View | ventral, dorsal (2) |
| Size | 53 mm ML, 53 mm ML (2) |
| Type | holotype, holotype (2) |
| Copyright | © 1962 Bulletin of Marine Science |
About This Page
Drawing from Voss (1969) printed with the Permission of the Bulletin of Marine Science.
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA
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Histioteuthis eltaninae .
Authored by
Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione.
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Citing this page:
Young, Richard E. and Michael Vecchione. 2000. Histioteuthis eltaninae . Version 01 January 2000 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Histioteuthis_eltaninae/19790/2000.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
