Under Construction

Magnapinna sp. C

Michael Vecchione and Richard E. Young
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Containing group: Magnapinnidae

Introduction

A magnapinnid, illustrated by Hardy (1956) from the South Atlantic and identified as Octopodoteuthopsis, is deposited in the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH). This squid was recognized as a magnapinnid by Vecchione and Young (2006). They list this species as Magnapinna sp. due to the slender tentacles which differed greatly from the previously only known species, M. pacifica.

Diagnosis

A Magnapinna ...

Characteristics

  1. Arms
    1. Proximal-arms approximately subequal in length (ca 40-45% of ML).
    2. Proximal-arms with gelatinous consistency and thick protective membranes.
    3. Arm tips stripped and damaged, distal-arms not recognizable.
    4. Proximal-arm suckers closely spaced, in 2 series.
    5. Proximal-arm suckers globular with smooth rings.

  2. Tentacles
    1. Tentacles badly damaged, suckers absent.
    2. Tentacle diameter at base less than arm diameter.
    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. Left - Ventral view of the base of the brachial crown of Magnapinna sp. C, showing relative size of arm and tentacle bases. Right - Lateral view of the head, arms and tentacles of Magnapinna sp. C showing funnel locking apparatus. Photographs by Wen-Sung Chung.

  3. Funnel
    1. Funnel locking-apparatus oval, without tragus or antitragus.

  4. Mantle
    1. Mantle length 79 mm.

  5. Fins
    1. Fin length 59 mm (75% of ML); width 76 mm.
    2. Fins in terminal position.
    3. Fins attach to lateral sides of gladius.

  6. Photophores
    1. Photophores absent.

  7. Viscera
    1. Spermatophore glands present.
    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. Ventral view of the viscera of Magnapinna sp. C. Photograph by Wen-Sung Chung.

Comments

We examined the specimen in the year 2000 before we realized that it belongs to the Magnapinnidae. The brief description above is from some notes we made at the time. The arms and tentacles were badly damaged in capture. The squid is an immature male. The buccal mass is relatively large and the buccal membrane is very reduced. We are uncertain at present whether this represents a separate species or is conspecific with M. atlantica and/or M. talismani. This specimen needs to be re-examined. 

References

Vecchione, M. and R. E. Young. 2006. The squid family Magnapinnidae (Mollusca; Cephalopoda) in the North Atlantic with a description of Magnapinna atlantica, n. sp. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 119 (3): 365-372.

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 Magnapinna sp. C
Location South Atlantic
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Sex Male
View Ventral
Size 79 mm ML
Copyright © Wen-Sung Chung
Scientific Name Magnapinna sp. C
Location South Atlantic
Reference Hardy, A. 1956. The Open Sea. Fisher, J., J. Gilmour, J. Huxley, M. Davies, and E. Hosking, Eds., Collins, London, 1956.
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
View Dorsal
About This Page


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


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

Page: Tree of Life Magnapinna sp. C. Authored by Michael Vecchione 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:

Vecchione, Michael and Richard E. Young. 2019. Magnapinna sp. C. Version 26 March 2019 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Magnapinna_sp._C/52211/2019.03.26 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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