Note

Neoteuthis thielei: Sucker Structure

Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione

Arm suckers:

SEM_photograph_of_arm_III_sucker. SEM_photograph_of_arm__III_sucker.

Although the arm III sucker (left) is much larger than the arm IV sucker (right), the dentition is very similar. Both suckers have broad truncated teeth although the arm III sucker has slightly more teeth than the arm IV sucker.

Tentacular club suckers:

SEM_photograph_of_a_large_dactylus_sucker.

Oral (left) and side (right) views of a large distal-manal sucker.

Note:

  • 26 sharp, pointed teeth.
  • Lobate inner edge of outer ring.
SEM_photograph_of_a_large_dactylus_sucker.
SEM_photograph_of_a_manus_sucker.

Oral-oblique view of a small sucker from proximal-manus (left).

Note:

  • Circular shape of sucker and its orifice.
  • 13 teeth all around inner ring; largest teeth on distal margin.
  • Three concentric series of plates with pegs on outer ring.
  • The narrow width of largest pegs relative to peg length.
The photograph on the right show the relative sizes of the suckers pictured above. Left - Arm III sucker. Left-middle - Large distal-manal sucker. Right-middle - arm IV sucker. Right - Proximal-manal sucker. Photograph_comparing_sucker_sizes.

Comments

These SEM photographs of the North Pacific N. thielei are very similar to those of a North Atlantic N. thielei. SEM photographs of the North Atlantic specimen can be seen here.


Illustrations

All photographs are scanning electron micrographs taken by R. Young.

About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


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

Page: Tree of Life Neoteuthis thielei: Sucker Structure 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.

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