Bathyteuthis

Bathyteuthis
Bathyteuthis abyssicola
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Subclass:	Coleoidea
Order:	Teuthida
Suborder:	Oegopsina/Bathyteuthoidea
Family:	Bathyteuthidae Pfeffer, 1900
Genus:	Bathyteuthis Hoyle, 1885
Species
See text

Bathyteuthis is the singular genus of squid in the family Bathyteuthidae, encompassing three species. None obtain a mantle length greater than 80 mm.

Bathyteuthis are found scattered throughout the world’s oceans at mesopelagic to bathypelagic depths, commonly between 700 and 2,000 meters.

Description

The arms on Bathyteuthis are short, joined by a low, fleshy web, with suckers arranged in irregular rows (2 proximally increasing to 4 distally). Tentacular clubs are short and narrow, with 8-10 longitudinal series of numerous, minute suckers. Buccal connectives which have small suckers attach to the dorsal border of the ventral arms (arms IV). Fins are small, round and separate. The head has tentacle pockets and the eyes are turned slightly to the front. Females have paired oviducts. Suckers lack circularis muscles.

Taxonomy

Eye of Bathyteuthis sp.

Bathyteuthis shares some characters with oegopsin squid and others with the Myopsina, hence its placement in a separate suborder, the Bathyteuthoidea, by some authorities.^[1] The paired oviducts (in females) and suckers without circularis muscles are characteristic of ordinary Oegopsina. On the other hand buccal connective tissue with suckers and tentacle pockets in the head are characters found in Myopsin squid, but absent in the Oegopsina.

Species

• Bathyteuthis abyssicola, deepsea squid
• Bathyteuthis bacidifera
• Bathyteuthis berryi

References

• FAO Bathyteuthidae

External links

• CephBase: Bathyteuthis

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