Nototeuthis dimegacotyle Description Continued

1. Arms
1. Long, thick, semi-gelatinous.
2. Low protective membranes with large triangular trabeculae.
3. Suckers on arms I-III large, up to 3.8% of ML (arm III).
4. Each stalk base surrounded by two low, rounded tubercles.
5. Arm IV suckers small, 1/4 to 1/5th diameter of other arm suckers.
6. Large suckers of arms I-III with 12-16 tall, blunt teeth on distal side; proximal end smooth (drawing on near right).
7. Suckers of arms IV with 4-6 similar but lower and more widely spaced teeth on distal margin (drawing on far right).


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



Figure. Oral view of arm suckers of N. dimegacotyle. Left - Sucker from arm III. Right - Sucker from arm IV. Drawings from Nesis and Nikitina, 1986.

2. Tentacles
1. Locking apparatus present along dorsal margin of manus (suckers in straight line) and well onto stalk (suckers in oblique pairs).
2. Locking apparatus with about 25 suckers, each with low, rounded teeth along perimeter.
3. Proximal portion of manus with several hundred small suckers (ca 0.15 mm diam.);  suckers in about 25 rows, initially oblique becoming transverse; approximately 15-20 suckers per row. Length of this region 40% of club length.
4. Proximal manal suckers with triangular teeth distally on inner ring and large teeth on distal portion of outer ring (inner margin) (drawing on far right).
5. Distal manus with 2 greatly enlarged suckers, approx. 1/3 of club length in diameter.
6. Enlarged suckers with ca. 45 sharp, conical teeth of similar height, each separated about one tooth width from its neighbor (drawing on near right).
7. Dactylus and smaller distal manal suckers with about 30 long sharp teeth all around their perimeter.
8. 13 suckers in terminal pad.


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



Figure. Oral view of tentacular club suckers of N. dimegacotyle. Left - Large sucker of distal manus. Right - Sucker from proximal manus. Drawings from Nesis and Nikitina, 1986.

3. Head
1. Occipital folds absent.
4. Mantle
1. Mantle drawn out into a thin, soft tail without solid support (possible artifact).
5. Fins
1. Length about 60% of ML, long and narrow.
2. Without anterior lobes,
3. Attach to dorsolateral sides of mantle.
4. Do not join together posteriorly.
6. Gladius
1. Free rhachis short.
2. Primary conus present


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



Figure. Ventral view of gladius of N. dimegacotyle with small piece at anterior end missing, 87 mm long, 10 mm wide. Drawing modified from Nesis and Nikitina, 1992.

7. Measurements (holotype) in mm
   1. ML, 48.5 (without tail)
   2. Fin length, 29.
   3. Width of single fin, 6.
   4. Arms I - 35; arms II - 45; arms III - 45; arms IV - 50.
   5. Club length, 18.
   6. Length of locking apparatus, 21
   7. Diameter of largest suckers: Arm I - 1.6, arm II - 1.8, arm III - 1.9, arm IV - 0.4.
   8. Diameter of largest club sucker: Proximal manus - 0.15, distal manus - 6.5, dactylus - 0.9-1.0.

References

Nesis, K.N., and I.V. Nikitina. 1986. New Genus and Species of Squid of the Family Neoteuthidae (Cephalopoda, Oegopsida) from the South-eastern Part of the Pacific Ocean. Zoologichesky Zhurnal, 65(2):290-294.

Nesis, K. N. and I. V. Nikitina. 1992. New records of oceanic squids Walvisteuthis virilis Nesis et Nikitina, 1986 and Nototeuthis dimegacotyle Nesis et Nikitina, 1986 (Cephalopoda, Oegopsida) from the South Atlantic and the South Pacific. Ruthenica, 2: 55-58.