Under Construction

Abraliopsis sp. V

Lourdes Burgess and Richard E. Young
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Containing group: Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis)

Introduction

Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis) sp. V is one of the more distinctive species in the subgenus.  Its size is a bit smaller than other members of the subgenus, reaching lengths of 28 mm ML in males and 35 mm ML in females. Known in the Central North Pacific from the equator to Hawaii (rare in Hawaii) and also a single record near New Guinea.

Brief diagnosis:

An Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis) ...

Characteristics

In addition to familial characters (listed on the Enoploteuthidae page) and generic characters (listed on the Abraliopsis page), Abraliopsis sp. V has:
  1. Arms
    1. Females
      1. Hooks on arms I largest and with enlarged median processes.
      2. Arms without tubercles.
        Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
        Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

        Figure. Ventral view of arms I (the two middle arms) and II of a female Abraliopsis sp. V (33 mm ML, paratype) showing the larger size of the hooks on arms I. Insert: Side (left) and front (right) views of a large arm I hook showing the vane-like median process.

    2. Males
      1. Arms I without enlarged hooks and hooks without strong median process. Hooks nearly aligned in single series over much of arm.
      2. Arms longer in males and with more hooks.
      3. First basal sucker, arms III, ventral series much larger than second basal sucker of same series and about equal in size to counterpart in dorsal series. Basal suckers 2-4 of arms III, dorsal series much larger than counterparts of ventral series.
      4. Left arm IV highly modified: enlarged ventral protective membrane with 12-18 large trabeculae reaching up to 2.5 mm in length. Dorsal trabeculae and membrane much shorter; first few proximal trabeculae larger, size diminishes distally and membrane nearly absent. Hooks with varying sizes depending on arm position. Arm with numerous tubercules.
      5. Hectocotylus (right arm IV) with large ventral flap and smaller, offset dorsal flap. Hooks with varying sizes depending on arm position. Arm with numerous tubercules.
  2. Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
    Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

    Figure. Oral views of arms III and IV of Abraliopsis sp. V, mature male, 30 mm ML, central Equatorial Pacific. Note the relative size of the two basal hooks of arm III, ventral series (arrows). Photographs by R. Young.

  3. Tentacles
    1. Clubs relatively short and without keels or carpal flaps.
    2. Carpus with 2-4 suckers and pads. 
    3. 2-4 large ventral hooks, 2-4 smaller dorsal hooks.
    4. Largest ventral hook of club about 2X dorsal counterpart in height.
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      Figure. Ventral (left), oral (center) and dorsal (right) views of the tentacular club of Abraliopsis sp. V, mature male, 30 mm ML, central Equatorial Pacific. Photographs by R. Young.

  4. Fins
    1. Fins large, 73-79% of ML.

  5. Photophores
    1. Ocular photophores: 5 ocular photophores, with end members about twice diameter of adjacent photophores.
    2. Integumental photophores: 3 series on ventral head; 6 series on ventral mantle.
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      Figure. Ventral views of the integumental photophores of Abraliopsis sp. V, mature male, 30 mm ML, tropical Pacific. Left - Photograph of the preserved squid. Right - Outline drawing from photograph with all integumental photophores represented by colored dots. Red dots - Complex photophores. Blue dots - Non-complex photophores. Images by R. Young.

      Detailed information on the integumental photophores can be found here.

  6. Viscera
    1. Spermatangia receptacles - Females with single pocket (stellate pocket) for storing spermatangia located in midline between anterior end of gladius and visceral mass. Dorsal collar area lacks pigmentation and folds indicating that it is not a receptacle.
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

       Figure. Dorsolateral view of the receptacle (stellate pocket - arrow) for spermatangia of Abraliopsis sp. V, 33 mm ML. Photograph by R. Young.

    2. Spermatophore:
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      Figure. Spermatophore of Abraliopsis sp. V, 30 mm ML, with enlarged insert of oral end. Photograph by R. Young

  7. Measurements and counts:
      TC 44, sta. 18
    TC 44, sta. 18 
    TC 48, loc. B
    TC 43, sta. 22 
    TC 46, sta. 27 
    TC 46, sta. 23 
    Sex
    Female
    ??
    Female
    Male
    Male
    Male
    Mantle length
    33
    33
    32
     28 30
    30
    Head width index
    30
    33
    36
    36
    37
    37
    Fin Length index
    76
    64
    73
    79
    70
    73
    Fin width index
    94
    97
    103
    93
    100
    100
    Arm Length index (R/L):
    I
    39/33
    39/-
    36/-
    39/-
    43/-
    43/-
    II
    36/36
    39/-
    45/-
    46/-
    50/-
    50/-
    III
    39/-
    36/-
    42/-
    39/- 
    47/-
    53/-
    IV
    49/49
    42
    46/46
    57/61
    53/60
    57/63
    No. arm hooks (R/L):
    I
    16/-; (22)
    19/-; (21)
    15/-; (24)
    23/-
    23/-; (15)
    22/-
    II
    19/-; (16)
    21/-; (15)
    18/-; (21)
    26/-
    27/-; (12)
    24/-
    III
    18/-; (12)
    18/-; (12)
    18/-; (20) 26/-
    24/-; (8)
    24/-
    IV
    23/23
    22/22 22/-
    31/40
    26/43
    25/36
    Club length index (R/L)
    18/18 18/20
    20/-
    20/-
    20/20
    20/18
    Club hooks (D/V)(R:L)
    3/4; 3/4
    4/3; 4/3
    3/3
    3/3; 4/3
    3/3; 4/3
    4/3; 4/3
    Carpal suckers (R/L)
    3/4
    4/5
    4/-
    4/4
    4/4
    4/4

Comments

While the abundance of blue photophores in the Lateral head and Central Arm IV Sectors is unique among A. (Pfefferiteuthis) spp., it is similar to that found in A. (Micrabralia) spp. NC1 and NC2. Therefore the identification of females (lack the characteristic A. (Pfefferiteuthis) male arms IV) requires some care. The tentacle clubs are similar only to those of A. falco within the subgenus but they are similar to those of A. lineata within A. (Micrabralia). The most distinctive feature of females, unique to this species, is the enlargement of hooks on arms I. 

Comparisons of all species in the subgenus can be found on the Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis) page.

Distribution

 A. (Pfefferiteuthis) sp. V is presently known only from the central tropical Pacific. Most (66 of 69) squid captured came from 17 stations located near 7°145°W and 12°N 145°W.
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Figure. White dots show general regions where Abraliopsis sp. V has been collected. Background map from Google Earth.app.

Title Illustrations
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Scientific Name Abraliopsis sp. V
Location Central Equatorial Pacific at 0°29'N, 145°05'W
Specimen Condition Preserved
Identified By Lourdes Burgess
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage Mature
View Ventral
Size 30 mm ML
Collection NMNH 729696
Type Paratype
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright ©
About This Page


Retired


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Lourdes Burgess at and Richard E. Young at

Page: Tree of Life Abraliopsis sp. V. Authored by Lourdes Burgess and Richard E. Young. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Burgess, Lourdes and Richard E. Young. 2014. Abraliopsis sp. V. Version 21 January 2014 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Abraliopsis_sp._V/144251/2014.01.21 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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