Discoteuthis (Genus) - CEPH REF

Discoteuthis is easily recognized by the large fins, small tentacular clubs and the presence of only suckers on the arms. It is broadly distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans. These squid have never been observed alive and little is known about their biology or ecology. Discoteuthis sp A could be the mature male of D. discus.

A cycloteuthid ...

with large, oval fins that extend the full length of the mantle.

A cycloteuthid ...

with large, oval fins that extend the full length of the mantle.

Tentacles
1. Medial suckers on manus of club greatly enlarged.
Mantle
1. Tail absent.
Fins
1. Fins large, oval; length equal to ML in subadults.
Photophores

Photophore arrangement varies with species. Photophores absent from eyes and viscera.

Species	Shape of groove of funnel-locking cartilage	Mantle photophores	Head photophores	Brachial crown photophores	Free Anterior mantle margin with tissue flaps	Dentition of large manus suckers
D. discus	Diagonal	At posteroventral mantle apex	Four?	None	No	Numerous, small, flattened to rounded teeth
Discoteuthis sp. A	Diagonal	At posteroventral mantle apex	Four	Series on arms I	No	None. Teeth absent
Discoteuthis sp. B	V-shaped	??	??	??	??	Numerous small, pointed teeth
D. laciniosa	V-shaped	At posteroventral mantle apex	None	On web between arms III and IV	Yes	Numerous irregular, low scalloped teeth

Young, R. E. and C. F. E. Roper. 1969. A monograph of the Cephalopoda of the North Atlantic: The family Cycloteuthidae. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 5:1-24.
Young, Richard E. 1999. Discoteuthis Young and Roper, 1969 . Version 01 January 1999 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Discoteuthis/19621/1999.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

Discoteuthis

Overview

Identification

Morphology

References

Taxonomy