Grimpoteuthis discoveryi

Grimpoteuthis discoveryi is a small species of octopus known from more than 50 specimens.[3] It was described in 2003, but specimens have been found as early as 1910. The type species was found at 49°35'N, 14°01'W.[4]

Grimpoteuthis discoveryi
Photograph of a Grimpoteuthis discoveryi specimen. Its arms are curled up.
Specimen collected in 2009
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Grimpoteuthidae
Genus: Grimpoteuthis
Species:
G. discoveryi
Binomial name
Grimpoteuthis discoveryi
Collins, 2003 [2]

Description

At maximum, Grimpoteuthis discoveryi's mantle is 58 millimeters in length, and its body in total reaches 370 millimeters.[5]

Its arms are long. G. discoveryi, like other cirrates, has a web covering its arms to some degree; this species' web reaches 2/3 of its arm length. The suckers on its arms number between 56 and 61. The suckers of female specimens are smaller than the suckers of males, and are also differently shaped.[3] The range in mantle size are larger in females (32-58mm) than males (25-52mm). The posterior salivary glands and radula are both absent in this species, however, its anterior salivary glands are present.[6] The species' body is white, and its eyes are dark grey or black when preserved. It's possible that G. discoveryi is actually two separate species.[4]

Habitat and population

This species has been found in the bathyal zone (also called the midnight zone), specifically from 2,600 to 4,870 meters below the surface. It lives in the Porcupine Seabight of the northeast Atlantic Ocean.[5] G. discoveryi may be a demersal species, occupying both rocky and soft seafloor. While its population is unknown, the species is classified as Least Concern because it lives at such depths, where human activity is unlikely to affect it.[7]

A map of the mid-Atlantic ridge showing where specimens have been found

References
  1. Lyons, G.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Grimpoteuthis discoveryi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T176055A1425673. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T176055A1425673.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Cuvelier, Daphne; Bouchet, Philippe. "Grimpoteuthis discoveryi". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  3. Collins, Martin A.; Vecchione, Michael; Young, Richard E. "Grimpoteuthis discoveryi". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  4. Collins, Martin A. (2003). "The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the north-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. The Linnean Society of London. 139: 116–122. doi:10.1046/j.1096-3642.2003.00074.x.
  5. Jereb, Patrizia; Roper, Clyde F.E.; Norman, Mark D.; Finn, Julian K., eds. (2016). Cephalopods of the World: an Annotated and Illustrated Catalog of Cephalopods Known to Date Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids (PDF). Rome: FAO. p. 262. ISBN 978-92-5-107989-8. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  6. Collins, Martin A. (2003). "The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the north-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 139 (1): 93–127. doi:10.1046/j.1096-3642.2003.00074.x. ISSN 1096-3642.
  7. Allcock, Louise; Lyons, G (2014). "Grimpoteuthis discoveryi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T176055A1425673.
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