Chiroteuthidae

Chiroteuthis is a genus of chiroteuthid squid, comprising two subgenera. The hectocotylus is absent from all members of the genus; instead, a penis extending from the mantle opening is utilised. The genus is characterised by enlarged, lidded photophores present at the end of the tentacular club. Arms IV are both the longest and thickest, their membranes acting as sheaths to the retractable tentacles.

The Chiroteuthidae are a family of deep-sea squid, generally small to medium in size, rather soft and gelatinous, and slow moving. They are found in most temperate and tropical oceans, but are known primarily from the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Indo-Pacific. The family is represented by approximately 12 species and four subspecies in four genera, two of which are monotypic. They are sometimes known collectively as whip-lash squid, but this common name is also applied to the Mastigoteuthidae, which are sometimes treated as a subfamily (Mastigoteuthinae) of Chiroteuthidae.

Planctoteuthis is a genus of chiroteuthid squid comprising five species, occurring worldwide in lower mesopelagic to bathypelagic depths in tropical to temperate waters. It has been suggested that members of Planctoteuthis are neotenic, retaining characteristics of the doratopsis developmental stage. This is marked in the retention of the paralarval tentacular club, unique among subadult chiroteuthids. Members lack both photophores and a funnel valve. The genus was originally placed within the monotypic family Valbyteuthidae, under the name Valbyteuthis. Similarities between the paralavae of V

species of mollusc

species of mollusc

Asperoteuthis is a genus of chiroteuthid squid comprising four species:

Grimalditeuthis bonplandi is a squid named after the Grimaldi family, reigning house of Monaco. Prince Albert I of Monaco was an amateur teuthologist who pioneered the study of deep sea squids by collecting the 'precious regurgitations' of sperm whales. The specific name bonplandi refers to the French scientist Aimé Bonpland.

species of mollusc