Opisthoteuthis philipii
Opisthoteuthis philipii is an octopus of the Indian Ocean. It lives off the coast of Kerala, India.[3] Known specimens were found between 275–365 m (902–1,198 ft) deep in the Arabian Sea[1] near Alappuzha.[4]
| Opisthoteuthis philipii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Opisthoteuthidae |
| Genus: | Opisthoteuthis |
| Species: | O. philipii |
| Binomial name | |
| Opisthoteuthis philipii Oommmen, 1976[2] | |
Description
Oommen described the species based on three animals. Not much is known about the species beyond these specimens. Oommen found that the arms were different lengths, and that his specimens, like many other cirrate ("Dumbo") octopuses, had thick webs connecting their arms. The cirri are retractable. Cirri are the small, thread-like structures that give cirrate octopuses their name. They line the octopuses' arms. Opisthoteuthis philipii is distinguishable from other Opisthoteuthis species by its uniquely shaped beak.[5] The mantle, which contains most of the vital organs, measures up to 140 mm (5.5 in). At maximum, the animal is 470 mm (19 in) long.[6]
References
- G. Lyons; L. Allcock. "''Opisthoteuthis philipii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163221A985854. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T163221A985854.en.
- "Opisthoteuthis philipii Oommen, 1976". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute.
- M.A. Collins; R. Villanueva (June 13, 2006). "Taxonomy, ecology and behaviour of the cirrate octopods.". In Gordon, J.D.M.; Atkinson, R.J.A.; Gibson, R.N. (eds.). Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, Volume 44. CRC Press. p. 297. ISBN 9781420006391.
- Collins, Martin A.; Sweeney, Michael J.; Vecchione, Michael (2002). "Systematics, ecology and biology of cirrate octopods: workshop report". Bulletin of Marine Science. 71 (1): 88.
- Young, Richard E.; Vecchione, Michael (May 2003). "Opisthoteuthis philipii". Tree of Life Web Project.
- Jereb, P. (2005). Cephalopods of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Cephalopod Species Known to Date · Volume 3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 256. ISBN 9789251079898.
Further reading
- Oommen, V.P. (1976). "A New Species of the Genus Opisthoteuthis Verrill, 1883 (Cephalopoda: Mollusca) from the Southwest Coast of India". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India. 18 (2): 368–374.