Planctoteuthis danae
Encyclopedia
Planctoteuthis danae is a species of chiroteuthid
squid
. It is distinguished from further members of Planctoteuthis
by a fin
length greater than half of the mantle
. During the paralarva
l stage, the species occurs in depths of 200–300 m, progressing to 200–800 m at 10-15mm ML; larger specimens have been captured from 700 m to in excess of 1000 m. The type locality of P. danae is in the Gulf of Panama
, and it has also been recorded from the eastern Pacific Ocean
and North Atlantic Ocean
Chiroteuthidae
Chiroteuthids are deep-sea squid of the family Chiroteuthidae. They are generally small to medium in size, rather soft and gelatinous, and slow moving. They are found in most temperate and tropical oceans, but are known primarily from the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Indo-Pacific...
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...
. It is distinguished from further members of Planctoteuthis
Planctoteuthis
Planctoteuthis is a genus of chiroteuthid squid comprising five species, occurring worldwide in lower mesopelagic to bathypelagic depths in tropical to temperate waters. It has been suggested that members of Planctoteuthis are neotenic, retaining characteristics of the doratopsis developmental stage...
by a fin
Fin
A fin is a surface used for stability and/or to produce lift and thrust or to steer while traveling in water, air, or other fluid media, . The first use of the word was for the limbs of fish, but has been extended to include other animal limbs and man-made devices...
length greater than half of the mantle
Mantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
. During the paralarva
Paralarva
Paralarvae is the term used to describe the young planktonic stages of cephalopods, between hatchling and subadult. It is used to differentiate it from the term 'larva' used in animals which undergo true metamorphosis. They have been observed only on members of the orders Octopoda and Teuthida.The...
l stage, the species occurs in depths of 200–300 m, progressing to 200–800 m at 10-15mm ML; larger specimens have been captured from 700 m to in excess of 1000 m. The type locality of P. danae is in the Gulf of Panama
Gulf of Panama
The Gulf of Panama is a gulf in the Pacific Ocean, near the southern coast of Panama. It has a maximum width of , a maximum depth of and the size of . The Panama Canal connects the Gulf of Panama with the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
, and it has also been recorded from the eastern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and North Atlantic Ocean