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Planctoteuthis exopthalmica (Chun 1910)

Richard E. Young and Clyde F. E. Roper
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Containing group: Planctoteuthis

Introduction

P. exopthalmica is poorly known as the original description was based on a 25 mm and a 9.5 mm ML paralarva. The 9.5 mm ML specimen, taken from the Indian Ocean, was designated as the lectotype (i.e., a "holotype" designated from the original type series) by Glaubrecht and Salcedo-Vargas (2000:274). The 25 mm ML specimen, taken in the North Atlantic, has been placed in the synonomy of P. levimana by Young et al. (2006). The most distinguishing feature of the small lectotype is a slender, unexpanded club, a feature shared with P. levimana. P. exopthalmica may eventually prove to be a junior synonym of P. levimana.

Characteristics

From Chun, 1910:
  1. Arms
    1. Arms IV bear uniserial suckers.
    2. Arms IV 7 mm long.
    3. Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
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      Figure. Oral view of a portion of arm IV of P. exopththalmica, 9.5 mm ML. Drawing from Chun (1910).

  2. Tentacular clubs
    1. Club not expanded
    2. Low, thick protective membranes along dorsal and ventral borders.
    3. 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 the tentacular club of P. exopththalmica, 9.5 mm ML. Drawing from Chun (1910).

  3. Head
    1. Head and neck 8 mm to base of arms.
    2. Oblong cone laterally carries strongly protruding eyes.
    3. Eyes with very long ventral process.
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      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
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      Figure. Side view of the head and eye of P. exopthalmica, 9.5 mm ML. Drawing from Chun (1910)

  4. Fins
    1. Dorsal base of fins short (1.5 mm).
    2. Combined width of fins 3.8 mm.

Comments

Most of Chun's description was based on the larger specimen which no longer is placed in this species. Chun states, "The smaller specimen from the Indian Ocean closely resembles the [larger] specimen in all important characters." However, we reproduce here only information specifically based on the small lectotype.

Nomenclature

This species was originally described by by Chun (1908) as Doratopsis exopthalmica and was placed in Planktoteuthis by Young (1991) due to the characteristic ventrally protruding eyes and shape of the fins.

Life history

Virtually nothing is known beyond the description of the paralarva.

Distribution

Geographical distribution

The lectotype is from the temperate South Indian Ocean at 43° 13'S, 80° 30'E.

References

Chun, C. 1908. Ueber Cephalopoden der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition, Zoologischer Anzeiger, 33: 86-89.

Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden. Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition, "Valdivia" 1898-1899, 18: 1-522 , Atlas.

Glaubrecht, M. and M.A. Salcedo-Vargas. 2000. Annotated type catalogue of the Cephalopoda (Mollusca) in the Museum fur Naturkunde, Humboldt University of Berlin. Mitteilungen aus dem Museum fur Naturkunde Berlin, Zoologischen, 76(2):269-282.

Pfeffer, G. 1912. Die Cephalopoden der Plankton-Expedition. Ergebniss der Plankton-Expedition der Humboldt-Stiftung. 2: 1-815.

Young, R. E., M. Vecchione, U. Piatkowski and C. F. E. Roper. In press. A redescription of Planctoteuthis levimana (Lonnberg, 1896) (Mollusca; Cephalopoda), with a brief review of the genus. 2006. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 119 (4): 586-591.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Planctoteuthis exopthalmica
Reference Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden. Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition, "Valdivia" 1898-1899, 18: 1-522 + Atlas.
Size 9.5 mm ML
Scientific Name Planctoteuthis exopthalmica
Reference Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden. Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition, "Valdivia" 1898-1899, 18: 1-522 + Atlas.
Life Cycle Stage Paralarva
View Dorsal
Size 9.5 mm ML
Type Lectotype
About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., USA

Page: Tree of Life Planctoteuthis exopthalmica (Chun 1910). Authored by Richard E. Young and Clyde F. E. Roper. 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 Clyde F. E. Roper. 2016. Planctoteuthis exopthalmica (Chun 1910). Version 29 August 2016 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Planctoteuthis_exopthalmica/19493/2016.08.29 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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