Slosarczykovia circumantarctica
Described by Marek Lipisnki
Page authors: M. Lipinski, A. Horenkamp
General: Slosarczykovia circumantarctica is a relatively large species of squid with a maximum mantle length of ~170 mm. While this species is commonly found around Antarctica, the systematic status has not been critically reviewed (Jereb & Roper, 2010).
Trophic ecology: This species is a common prey item for many Antarctic species including Patagonian toothfish (Cherel et al., 2004), Antarctic fur seal (Abreu et al., 2019), Wandering Albatross (Cherel et al., 2017). A stable isotope analysis was done and showed that Slosarczykovia circumantarctica was segregated from its close relative Brachioteuthis linkovskyi by both trophic position (δ15N values) and habitat (δ13C values) (Cherel & Hobson, 2005).
Behavior: Recent footage from Schmidt Ocean Institute has captured Slosarczykovia changing between white to red colors Slosarczykovia changing colors.
Slosarczykovia circumantarctica
This species displays a circumantarctic distribution.
Type locality: Opposite of Wilkes Land Antarctica.
Origin of Slosarczykovia circumantarctica holotype Lipinski (2001)
Epidermis: The fins, mantle, head, and arms are covered in a reticulate integumentary net that is present on both sexes. No tubercles on the mantle of maturing males or females.
Mantle: The mantle is long and relatively slender (mantle width ~19-21 mm mantle length (ML)).
Fins: The fins are rhomboidal, with wider fins than they are long (fin length index ~40% ML, fin width index ~55% ML).
Arms: Arms are short, with males having slightly longer arms in comparison to the mantle length. Arm formula is II>III>IV>I. In females, the sucker rings of arms I-IV are smooth, while males sometimes have 1-4 teeth on arms I-IV. In mature males, there is no presence or sucker enlargement and/or modification.
Tentacle: Tentacles are short (tentacle length index ~75% ML) with a long club (club index ~33% ML). Sections of the club are weakly differentiated. Despite carpal suckers being present, there are no adjoining knobs, suggesting that Slosarczykovia lacks a carpal fixing apparatus. The widest section of the club has approximately 10 series of sparsely distributed suckers. The diameter of the largest suckers on the proximal manus are only 1/3rd larger than those of the largest manus suckers.
Oral view of the tentacular club of S. circumantarctica. Drawing from Lipinski (2001)
Gladius:
Slosarczykovia circumantarctica gladius drawn by Marek Lipinski.
Taxonomy and etymology: This species was first discovered by Marek Lipinski in 2001. Slosarczykovia circumantarctica was named after Dr Wieslaw Slosarczyk who collected all the material from Antarctic waters. The taxonomic status of this species has yet to be reviewed.
Conservation status and threats:
As of April 2010, Slosarczykovia circumantarctica is listed as of least concern by the IUCN Red List. While the impacts of climate change remain unknown, there are thoughts that there will be a decrease in habitat suitability for S. circumantarctica (Guerreiro, 2025).
Guerreiro, M. F., Santos, C. P., Borges, F. O., Santos, C. F., Xavier, J. C., & Rosa, R. (2025). Projecting future climate change impacts on the distribution of pelagic squid in the Southern Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 757, 85-98.
Jereb, P., & Roper, C. F. (2010). Cephalopods of the world-an annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Vol 2. Myopsid and oegopsid squids (No. 2). Fao.
Lipinski, M. R. (2001). Preliminary description of two new species of cephalopods (Cephalopoda: Brachioteuthidae) from South Atlantic and Antarctic waters. Bulletin of the Sea Fisheries Institute, 1(152), 3-14.
Taxonomy
- Class
- Cephalopoda
- Superorder
- Decapodiformes
- Order
- Oegopsida
- Superfamily
- Cycloteuthoidea
- Family
- Brachioteuthidae
- Genus
- Slosarczykovia