Abraliopsis sp. Z

Introduction

Abraliopsis sp. Z is one of the more distinctive species of the subgenus. It is presently known only from the South Atlantic. Males reach at least 32 mm ML and females at least 35 mm ML.

Brief diagnosis:

An Abraliopsis (Abraliopsis) ...

• with central bare-strip of Median Mantle Sector distinct in anterior 1/5 of mantle. 
• with photophores of ventral head not randomly scattered.
• without dorsal flap on hectocotylus.
  
• without blue photophores in central region of arm IV base.
  

Characteristics

1. Arms
   1. Hectocotylus (right arm IV): Venral flap slightly bilobed and biconcave. Dorsal flap absent. Hooks extend distal to ventral flap.
      
   2. Hooks of arms IV smaller than those of arms I-III, latter hooks about equal in size.
      
      

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      Figure. Ventral view with a disral oral twist of the hectocotylus of Abraliopsis sp. Z, 28 mm ML. Note the large ventral flap and the absence of a dorsal flap near anterior end of the ventral flap. Photograph by R. Young.
      

      

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      Figure. Oral view of the hectocotylus of Abraliopsis sp. Z, 29 mm ML. Note the broad ventral lobe and the absence of a dorsal lobe. Photograph by R. Young.
      

   3. Arms IV: bare region in females about equal in length to arm tip bearing three black photophores.
   4. Right arm III (35 mm ML, female) with 24 suckers at arm tip; largest with about 7 pointed teeth on distal half of inner ring.
      
      
2. Tentacles
   1. Club: Large keel and large carpal flap.
      
      

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      Figure. Dorso-oral (top) and ventro-oral (bottom) views of the tentacular club of Abraliopsis sp. Z, female, 29 mm ML. Photographs by R. Young.

3. Head
   1. Occipital folds 1-4 well developed with distinct posteriorly cresent ridge connecting folds 3 and 4.
      
      
4. Photophores
   1. Ocular photophores: xx
   2. Integumental photophores: Head with scattered photophores but not a random scatter as a hint of a pattern is seen. Mantle with scattered photophores.
      
      

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      Figure. Ventral views of the integumental photophores of Abraliopsis sp. Z, female 29 mm ML. Left - Photograph of the preserved squid. Right - Outline drawing from photograph with all integumental photophores represented by colored dots. Red dots - Complex photophores. Blue dots - Non-complex photophores. Images by R. Young.

      More details of the integumental photophores can be found here.
      

5. Viscera
   1. Spermatangia receptacles located dorsally beneath collar and adjacent to nuchal cartilage. No indication of an area for receptacles where gladius joins viscera.
      
      
6. Measurements and counts:

   Sex	Female
   Mantle length	35
   Head width index	-
   Fin Length index	74
   Fin width index	100
   Arm Length index, I	-
   II	54/
   III	57/57
   IV	77+/80
   No. hooks, I	16/15
   II	16/16
   III	17/19
   IV	18/18
   Club length index	-
   Club hooks	3/3; -

Distribution

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Figure. White dots show the capture localities of Abraliopsis sp. Z. The base map is from Google Earth.App.