Comb-finned Squid

Comb-finned Squid
Chtenopteryx sicula caught off Naples.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopoda Subclass: Coleoidea Order: Teuthida Suborder: Oegopsina Family: Chtenopterygidae Genus: Chtenopteryx Species: C. sicula
Binomial name
Chtenopteryx sicula (Vérany, 1851)

The Comb-finned Squid or Toothed-fin Squid (Chtenopteryx sicula) is a species of squid native to at least the Mediterranean Sea. It is characterised by several distinct morphological features: ocular photophores are present but visceral photophores are absent, arm suckers are arranged in at least 4 series distally, and club suckers are borne in more than 8 series.

The type specimen was collected off Messina, Italy. It is deposited at the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle (Musée Barla) in Nice.^[1]

Chtenopteryx sicula paralarvae. Left: Two very young paralarvae. The circular tentacular clubs bear approximately 20 irregularly arranged suckers. Two chromatophores are present on each side of the mantle. Centre: Ventral, dorsal and side views of a more advanced paralarva. An equatorial circulet of seven large yellow-brown chromatophores is present on the mantle. Posteriorly the expanded vanes of the gladius are visible in the dorsal view. Right: Ventral and dorsal views of a very advanced paralarva.

Ventral view of the viscera, showing the absence of a visceral photophore and the presence of the accessory nidamental gland.

References

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

External links

• CephBase: Comb-finned Squid
• Tree of Life web project: Chtenopteryx sicula

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