Stauroteuthis
| Stauroteuthis | |
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| Stauroteuthis syrtensis | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Suborder: | Cirrina |
| Family: | Stauroteuthidae Grimpe, 1916 |
| Genus: | Stauroteuthis Verrill, 1879 |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Chunioteuthis Grimpe, 1916 |
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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 water depth; although sometimes found as deep as four kilometres underwater, they generally live at a water depth of around 2 km.[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]
[edit] Species
Stauroteuthis syrtensis is widespread in the North Atlantic.[3] The population size of S. syrtensis is unknown.[4]
Stauroteuthis gilchristi is only known from two localities in the south Atlantic; these two localities may even represent different species.[1][5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c 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)". The Biological Bulletin 197 (1): 26–39. doi:10.2307/1542994. http://www.biology.duke.edu/johnsenlab/pdfs/pubs/octopusbiolbull.pdf.
- ^ Stauroteuthis syrtensis. Tree of Life web project.
- ^ Stauroteuthis syrtensis Verrill, 1879. Encyclopedia of Life.
- ^ Stauroteuthis gilchristi. Tree of Life web project.
[edit] External links
- Tree of Life website gives information about the classification of cephalopod groups
- Stauroteuthidae discussion forum at TONMO.com
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