Kondakovia longimana

Introduction

Kondakovia longimana is a large squid (adults to 740 mm ML) of the Southern Ocean (Kubodera et al. 1998).  The three individuals of the type series were taken from the surface and at a depth of 50 m. All three had been feeding heavily on euphausiids (i.e. Euphausia superba). Clarke (1980) examined the stomachs of 7 squid and found remains of fish, crustacea, squid and sponges.

Brief diagnosis:

An species of Kondakovia ...

• with 28-33 hooks on the manus.
• with longidtudinal dermal ridges on the surface of the mantle.
• with rostrum of gladius 5-10% ML.
  

Characteristics

1. Tentacles
   1. Tentacular club with about 33 hooks and 33 small, marginal suckers.
      

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      Figure. Tentacular clubs of K. longimana. Top - Dorsal view, preserved, 195 mm ML, ELTANIN sta. 1392, NMNH specimen. Photograph by R. Young. Bottom - Oral view of tentacular club. Drawing from Filippova, 1972.

2. Head
   
   1. Beaks: Descriptions can be found here: Lower beak; upper beak.
      
      
3. Mantle
   1. Mantle soft and fleshy.
   2. Mantle skin with longitudinal ridges in large specimens (Clarke, 1980). The photographs below compare the skin of K. longimana (left, middle) with the skin of Onykia robsoni (right).
      

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      Figure. Mantle skin of two species. Left - Ventral view of portion of mantle of K. longimana, 195 mm ML (NMNH specimen). Photograph by R. Young. A - K. longimana. B - O. robsoni. A, B photographs from Clarke, 1980.

4. Gladius
   1. Gladius not visible beneath skin in dorsal midline.
   2. Gladius thin and fragile with 3 pairs of narrow longitudinal ribs: one borders rhachis, one at marginal rim and one inbetween the other two.
   3. Gladius rostrum 5-8% of ML (Kubodera et al., 1998); 2-5% of ML (Clarke, 1980).
   4. Gladius rostrum tricornate dorsally in cross-section along conus field; convex rib present over full length of flat dorsal surface.
      

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      Figure. Ventral view of gladius of K. longimana with inset of a lateral view of the rostrum and a cross-section of the rostrum and conus field, 210 mm GL. Drawings from Filippova, 1972.

   
   

   Comments

   Except where indicated, this description is taken from Filippova (1972). Squids of the type series had a purple-brown color.

   Additional features of the description can be found here.

Distribution