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Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis)

Richard E. Young
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Containing group: Abraliopsis

Introduction

The subgenus Pfefferiteuthis is very distinct. All males have very distinctive arms IV, especially the LEFT member which is characterized by a peculiar pattern of hook sizes, a very enlarged ventral protective membrane and numerous papillae. The right arm IV (hecctocotylus) is also complex having, in addition to flaps, a characteristic pattern of hook sizes. Considering the complexity of both arms IV one might expect to find numerous species-specific characters there. Yet, between species these arms are remarkably similar. However, specific characters still may exist, but they have not yet been found.

Characteristics

  1. Right arm IV (males)
    1. Large, ventral, rounded-trapezoidal flap; distally offset smaller dorsal flap; low ventral membrane extends from ventral flap to terminal large photophores.
    2. Arm hooks differ greatly in size between series and within series.
    3. Small, mostly-free trabeculae (ie, almost no connecting membrane) with tubercules on both margins.
  2. Left arm IV (males)
    1. With greatly enlarged ventral membrane with long trabeculae that project beyond the membrane; trabeculae lined with rows of tuberules.
    2.  Arm hooks differ greatly in size between series and within series.

The following table compares characters of species within the subgenus

  A. affinis
A. atlantica
A. chuni
A. falco
Abraliopsis sp. A
Abraliopsis sp. P
Abraliopsis sp. V
Club keel
long
short
 long absent
short
long
absent
Carpal flap
present
 absent present
absent
absent
present
absent
 Size of large club hooks - ventral:dorsal 2.5:1
 3:1
>3:1
2:1
>3:1
3:1
 ~2:1
Club length index
 ?  ?  ?  14.3 29.1
22.7
19.3
Enlarged hooks, arms I, females
No
?
?
No
No
No
Yes
1st basal arm IV hook, ventral series, males
= 2nd in series, < than dorsal counterpart
> 2nd in series, = or > dorsal counterpart  ? > 2nd in series, = or > dorsal counterpart
> 2nd in series, = or > dorsal counterpart
< or = 2nd in series, < dorsal counterpart
> 2nd in series, =  dorsal counterpart 
Spermatangia receptacles
Dorsal colllar + Stellate pocket 
?  ? Dorsal colllar (?) + Stellate pocket Dorsal colllar + Stellate pocket  Dorsal colllar + Stellate pocket  Stellate pocket
Lateral Arm IV, Arm III Series
Discontinuous
    Discontinuous 
Discontinuous 
Discontinuous 
Continuous
Red photophores in caret of Median Head Series
 3 5 or more
 ? 5 or more
5 or more 5 or more
5
Blue photophores in medial head sector 
None to few anterolaterally
None to ?
Many ?
None to few anteriorly  None to few throughout
None ???
Many distally
Blue photophores in anteror Median Mantle Sector
Few, very tight to lateral margins
?
?
Many, well scattered from lateral margins
Few, tight to lateral margins
Few, tight to lateral margins 
Many, well scattered from lateral margins 
Photophores in anterior 1st Lateral Mantle Sector
Many blues, more near Medial margin. Few  "free" reds
?
?
Many blues, broadly scattered. No "free" reds.
Few blues, near margins.  No "free" reds. Few blues, broadly scattered.  No "free" reds. Many blues, increase toward medial margin.  No "free" reds.
 Habitat Eastern Tropical Pacific
Tropical-subtropical Atlantic Ocean
Tropical Indian Ocean
Subtropical Northeast Pacific
Tropical Pacific
Tropical Pacific
Tropical Pacific
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. A
Location Hawaiian waters
Specimen Condition Preserved
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage Adult
Body Part Head photophores
View Ventrolateral
Size 37 mm ML
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright ©
Scientific Name Abraliopsis affinis
Location Eastern tropical Pacific, La Paz Basin, off Baja California
Specimen Condition Preserved
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage Mature
Body Part Arms IV
View Oral
Size 30 mm ML
Collection SBMNH 45819
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright ©
About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

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

Page: Tree of Life Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis). Authored by 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:

Young, Richard E. 2013. Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis). Version 03 November 2013 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Abraliopsis_%28Pfefferiteuthis%29/138179/2013.11.03 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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