Neoteuthis thielei Naef, 1921

Introduction

This redescription is based on a single, well preserved squid from the North Pacific taken north of the main Hawaii Archipelago. We have, however, examined several specimens from the North Atlantic and South Atlantic that exhibit no basic differences.

Brief diagnosis:

• with long clubs (60% of ML) and long fins (70% of ML).
• with proximal club locking-apparatus restricted to manus.
• with proximal manal suckers circular in shape.

Characteristics

1. Arms
   1. Arm suckers with ca 15 broad, truncate teeth on distal 1/2-2/3 of inner ring. Dentition similar on all arms.
      

      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      

      Figure. Oblique views of large arm suckers of N. thielei, 100 mm ML, North Pacific. Photograph by R. Young.

2. Tentacles
   1. Club long, 59-63% of ML.
   2. Proximal-manus occupies 75-80% of club length.
   3. Suckers of proximal-manus extremely small and numerous.
   4. Locking apparatus present only along dorsal border of proximal-manus (see arrows in photograph to the right).
   5. Dactylus with 4 series of suckers to tip.
      

      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      
      

      Figure. Top - Oral view of tentacular club of N. thielei, 83 mm ML . Drawing from Young (1972). Bottom - Oblique view of portion of proximal-manus of N. thielei, 100 mm ML. Arrows point to suckers of proximal locking apparatus. Photograph by R. Young.

   6. Small suckers of club proximal-manus with toothed inner rings and inward projecting pegs on outer rings.
   7. Large suckers of club distal-manus with numerous long, pointed teeth around entire margin of inner ring.
   

   Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

   

   Figure. Oral view of tentacular club-suckers of N. thielei, 100 mm ML, North Pacific. Left - Small suckers of the proximal manus. Right - Large suckers of the distal manus. Photographs by R. Young.

   Scanning electron micrographs of the suckers can be seen here.

3. Head
   
   1. Beaks: Descriptions can be found here: Lower beak; upper beak.
      
      
4. Fins
   1. Fins long, 70% of ML (see title illustration) and narrow (relative to length). 
   2. Fins with free posterior lobes.
      
      

      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      
      

      Figure. Neoteuthis thielei, ~ 10 cm ML, in situ photograph at a depth of 1130 m, just above the ocean floor, by an ROV from the NOAA ship R/V OKEANOS EXPLORER. The photograph has been rotated 90°. Ventral view with the nearly transparent fins are difficult to see; nevertheless, note the free posterior fin lobes.
      

Comments

Distribution

Type locality: 32°08'S, 08°28'W, South Atlantic, 0-1000 m depth.

The North Pacific specimen came from 28°18.9'N, 154°37.5'W (north of the Hawaiian Islands) from the R/V T. Washington with an IKMT that fished mostly with 3000 mwo. (South Tow 13, Station no. 6- tow 35. Scripps Inst. Ocy.)

Other Names for Neoteuthis thielei Naef, 1921

• Neoteuthis Naef, 1921

References

Naef, A. 1921-23. Cephalopoda. Fauna e Flora de Golfo di Napoli. Monograph, no. 35, 863 pp.

Naef, A. 1921. Das System der Dibranchiaten Cephalopoden und die Mediterranean Arten derselben. Mitteilungen aus der Zoologischen Station Zu Neapel, 22: 527-542.

Thiele, J. 1920. Die Cephalopodsn der deutschen Sudpolar-Expedition 1901-1903. Deutsche Sudpolar-Expedition 1901-1903, 16(8): 433-465.