Under Construction

Containing group: Abraliopsis (Pfefferiteuthis)

Introduction

A. chuni was originally based on the illustrations of an enoploteuthid squid (38 mm ML, mature female) from the Indian Ocean, North Equatorial Current, in Chun (1910). While the specimen illustrated has been located and designated as the lectotype, no adequate description has been published.

Characteristics

1. Tentacle clubs
   1. Two rows of distinct different-sized hooks on manus with largest ventral hooks over 3 times height of dorsal counterpart (judging from drawing).
      
   2. Carpal flap and aboral keel present.
      
      

      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      
      

      Figure. Oral view of the tentacular club of A. chuni, male, equatorial Indian Ocean, station 256. Drawing from Chun (1910, Plate VIII, Fig. 3).

2. Arms
   1. Arms IV relatively long.
      
      
3. Hectocotylus and male sexual dimorphism
   1. Male hectocotylization uncertain.
      
      
4. Integumental Photophores (determined from the title illustration above)
   
   1. Ventral mantle with six narrow longitudinal stripes of large integumental organs; no scattered intermediate small organs between stripes; a distinct wide mid-ventral photophore-less strip present.
   2. Ventral head with three narrow, longitudinal stripes and no intermediate scattered organs between them.
   3. Stripes of organs along ventral side of arm III and dorsal side of arm IV are not interrupted.

Comments

Abraliopsis chuni is probably a member of the subgenus Pfefferiteuthis. It shares having a carpal flap and large keel on the tentacular club with Abraliopsis species P, V and affinis. The latter differs with its restricted distribution (Eastern Tropical Pacific) and its distinctive mantle photophore pattern.  Insufficient information is known to determine how similar it is to the other two species. See the A. (Pfefferiteuthis) page for a comparison of species in the subgenus. At present identification of A. chuni is based on its location in the Indian Ocean.

Nomenclature

Chun (1910) redescribed Abraliopsis morisii (Vérany, 1839) from Atlantic and Indian Ocean specimens. The illustrations accompanying the text clearly show that more than one species was included in the description. Subsequently, Nesis (1982) named, on the basis of these illustrations, two new species of Abraliopsis (i.e., A. atlantica and A. chuni). More recently, the squids that were illustrated were located and designated as  lectotypes of their respective species (Glaubrecht. and Salcedo-Vargas, 2000).

Distribution

Geographical Distribution

The only reliable record is that of the type specimen from the Indian Ocean, North Equatorial Current, 1°49'N, 45°29'E.

References

Okutani, T. 1974. Epipelagic decapod cephalopods collected by midwater tows during the EASTROPAC Expedition, 1967-1968 (systematic part). Bulletin of Tokai Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory, 80:29-118.

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

Nesis, K. N. 1982. Abridged key to the cephalopod mollusks of the world's ocean. 385,ii pp. Light and Food Industry Publishing House, Moscow. (In Russian.). Translated into English by B. S. Levitov, ed. by L. A. Burgess (1987), Cephalopods of the world. T. F. H. Publications, Neptune City, NJ, 351pp.

Young, R.E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the sea off southern California. Smithsonian Contribution to Zoology, 97:1-159.