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Grimpoteuthis tuftsi Voss & Pearcy, 1990

Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione
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Containing group: Grimpoteuthis

Introduction

G. tuftsi is known only from the type description which is based on seven specimens captured in bottom trawls during a study of the fauna of the continental slope and the Tufts and Cascadia Abyssal Plains in the Northeastern Pacific. The largest individual has a total length of 475 mm.

Characteristics

  1. Web
    1. Web formula variable, generally ABCDE.
    2. Web nodule at midpoint of each arm, ventral side.
    3. Web nodule near but not at end of web.
    4. On dorsal arm margin web extends nearly to arm tip.
    5. 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 view of arms, web and suckers of G. tuftsi. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy (1990).

  2. Suckers and cirri
    1. Arms I each with 63-75 suckers.
    2. Maximum sucker diameter 2.5 - 5.3% of ML.
    3. Suckers united by thin transparent web or membrane along oral surface of arms.
    4. 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. Lateral view of suckers and cirri of G. tuftsi, male, 93 mm ML. Note weak membrane between suckers. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy (1990).

    5. First 6-7 suckers small, then gradually increase to maximum diameter at about level of nodule.
    6. 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 view of left arm I of G. tuftsi, male, 93 mm ML. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy (1990).

    7. Sexual dimorphism absent.
    8. First cirri between suckers 5-7.
    9. Cirri long, maximum length 1.5-3.5 x largest sucker diameter.
    10. Cirri extend to arm tip.
    11. 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. Right arm I of G. tuftsi enlarged from oral view of arms above. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy (1990).

  3. Shell
    1. U- or rounded V-shaped with a hint of central bend in saddle (i.e., weak W-shaped).
    2. Somewhat constricted at posterior end.
    3. Wings taper to thin, flat, straplike, truncated tips.
    4. 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. Dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views of shell of G. tuftsi, male, 72 mm ML. Drawing from Voss and Pearcy (1990).

Comments

The above description is taken from Voss and Pearcy (1990). More details of the description of G. tuftsi can be found here.

G. tuftsi can be separated from all other members of the genus by the transverse groove in the outer surface of the shell saddle. This groove gives the shell a weak W-shape which is somewhat similar to but not as strong as in species of Luteuthis. Among other Pacific species, G. tuftsi differs from:

Nomenclature

O'Shea (1999) suggested that G. tuftsi might be a Luteuthis; however Collins (2003) after examining the holotype of G. tuftsi, concluded that this species should remain in Grimpoteuthis.

Distribution

L. tuftsi is known only from the Tufts Abyssal Plain off Oregon, USA. Type locality: 45°05.2'N, 134°43.4'W, 3900 m.

References

Collins, M. A. 2003. The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the North-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species. Zool. Journ. Linnean Soc., 139: 93-127.

O'Shea, Steve. 1999. The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Octopoda (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 112: 280pp.

Voss, G. L. and W. G. Pearcy. 1990. Deep-water octopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) of the Northeastern Pacific. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 47: 47-94.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Luteuthis tuftsi
Reference Voss, G. L. and W. G. Pearcy. 1990. Deep-water octopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) of the Northeastern Pacific. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 47: 47-94.
Sex Male
View Dorsal
Size 93 mm ML
Type Paratype
Copyright © 1990 G.L. Voss and W.G. Pearcy
About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA

Page: Tree of Life Grimpoteuthis tuftsi Voss & Pearcy, 1990. Authored by Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione. 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. and Michael Vecchione. 2003. Grimpoteuthis tuftsi Voss & Pearcy, 1990. Version 13 May 2003 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Grimpoteuthis_tuftsi/20128/2003.05.13 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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