Octosquid
Encyclopedia
Octosquid is the name given to what appears to be a new species of the genus
Mastigoteuthis
which was discovered at a depth of 3000 feet (914.4 m) off the Hawaiian Islands
in the summer of 2007. On June 12, 2007, the creature was identified as an unnamed species of squid.
The animal was caught in a filter placed in one of the deep-sea pipelines of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. The ruby red creature was about a foot long, with white suction cup
s on its arms. The animal died three days after it was brought to the surface.
The specimen was originally dubbed "Octosquid" by NELHA operations manager Jan War, a reference to the fact that the specimen had only eight arms, like an octopus
, rather than the eight arms and two tentacles of most squid
. An examination of the specimen conducted by Professor Richard Young of the University of Hawaii at Manoa
, however, concluded that it is in fact a previously known but as-yet unnamed species of the genus Mastigoteuthis
. The specimen was likely missing its tentacles due to them being torn off during capture.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Mastigoteuthis
Mastigoteuthis
Mastigoteuthis is a genus of whip-lash squid containing approximately 12 species. Some teuthologists consider Idioteuthis synonymous with this taxon.-Species:*Genus Mastigoteuthis**Mastigoteuthis agassizii...
which was discovered at a depth of 3000 feet (914.4 m) off the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
in the summer of 2007. On June 12, 2007, the creature was identified as an unnamed species of squid.
The animal was caught in a filter placed in one of the deep-sea pipelines of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. The ruby red creature was about a foot long, with white suction cup
Suction cup
A suction cup, also sometimes known as a sucker is an object that uses negative fluid pressure of air or water to adhere to nonporous surfaces. They exist both as artificially created devices, and as anatomical traits of some animals such as octopi and squid.The working face of the suction cup has...
s on its arms. The animal died three days after it was brought to the surface.
The specimen was originally dubbed "Octosquid" by NELHA operations manager Jan War, a reference to the fact that the specimen had only eight arms, like an octopus
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
, rather than the eight arms and two tentacles of most squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
. An examination of the specimen conducted by Professor Richard Young of the University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
, however, concluded that it is in fact a previously known but as-yet unnamed species of the genus Mastigoteuthis
Mastigoteuthis
Mastigoteuthis is a genus of whip-lash squid containing approximately 12 species. Some teuthologists consider Idioteuthis synonymous with this taxon.-Species:*Genus Mastigoteuthis**Mastigoteuthis agassizii...
. The specimen was likely missing its tentacles due to them being torn off during capture.
See also
- Vampire SquidVampire SquidThe vampire squid is a small, deep-sea cephalopod found throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world. Unique retractile sensory filaments justify the Vampire Squid's placement in its own order: Vampyromorphida , which shares similarities with both squid and octopuses...
, another cephalopod sharing squid and octopus qualities - Dana Octopus SquidDana Octopus SquidThe Dana Octopus Squid is a species of squid in the family Octopoteuthidae. It is one of the largest known squid species, reaching a mantle length of and total length of...
, an example of the Octopoteuthidae family, also with eight arms and no tentacles, not closely related to the "octosquid"