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Enoploteuthis chuni Ishikawa 1914

Kotaro Tsuchiya
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Containing group: Enoploteuthis

Introduction

Enoploteuthis chuni is a mesopelagic boundary species associated with the shelf waters of Japan and adjacent waters (Tsuchiya, 1993; Young, 1995).

Characteristics

  1. Tentacle
    1. Tentacle long, with distinct club.
    2. Carpal cluster oval.
    3. Two rows of different-sized hooks on manus.
    4. Four rows of suckers on dactylus.
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      Figure. Oral views of the tentacular clubs of E. chuni, mature female, Japanese waters. Drawing from Sasaki (1929).

  2. Hectocotylus
    1. Hectocotylus with two subequal-sized offset flaps.
    2. Modified portion without armature.
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      Figure. Oral view of the hectocotylized right arm IV of E. chuni, Japanese waters. Drawing from Sasaki (1929).

  3. Head
    1. Beaks: Descriptions can be found here: Lower beak; upper beak.

  4. Integumental Photophores
    1. Ventral mantle with six longitudinal stripes of integumental organs anteriorly but become diffused posteriorly.
    2. Ventral head with three longitudinal stripes of integumental organs.
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      Figure. Ventral view of the head of E. chuni, Sea of Japan, showing arrange of photophores. Note the orange photosensitive vesicles. Photograph by Danté Fenolio.

    3. Ventral side of arm III with a series of organs on almost entire arm length along the base of aboral keel.
    4. Eye with 8 or 9 photophores.
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      Figure. Ventral view of the ocular photophores of E. chuni with eyelid cut. Drawing from Sasaki (1929).

Life history

Spawning

In the Japan Sea, it was estimated that a female spawns about 5,500-13,000 eggs in summer.

Eggs

Eggs are oval, weakly greenish tint.

Distribution

Geographical distribution

This species seems to be a mesopelagic boundary species associated with continental or island shelves (Tsuchiya, 1993; Young, 1995). It is distributed from off the Philippines, East China Sea, Japanese coast of Japan Sea, Kuroshio-Oyashio transition zone to near Hawaiian waters.

References

Tsuchiya, K. 1993. Distribution and zoogeography of the family Enoploteuthidae in the Northwest Pacific. In: Okutani, T., O’Dor, R. K. and Kubodera, T. (eds.) 1993. Recent advances in fisheries biology (Tokai University Press. Tokyo). pp. 571-585.

Sasaki, M. 1929. A Monograph of the Dibranchiate Cephalopods of the Japanese and Adjacent Waters. Journal of the College of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University,357 pp.

Young, R.E. 1995. Aspects of the natural history of pelagic cephalopods of the Hawaiian mesopelagic-boundary region. Pacific Science, 49:143-155.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Enoploteuthis chuni
Location Toyama Bay, Japan
Reference Sasaki, M. 1929. A Monograph of the Dibranchiate Cephalopods of the Japanese and Adjacent Waters. Journal of the College of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University,357 pp.
Sex Female
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Tokyo University of Fisheries, Tokyo, Japan

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Citing this page:

Tsuchiya, Kotaro. 2010. Enoploteuthis chuni Ishikawa 1914. Version 15 August 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Enoploteuthis_chuni/19706/2010.08.15 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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