Octopoteuthis deletron
| Octopoteuthis deletron | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Family: | Octopoteuthidae |
| Genus: | Octopoteuthis |
| Species: | O. deletron
|
| Binomial name | |
| Octopoteuthis deletron | |
Octopoteuthis deletron is a species of squid in the genus Octopoteuthis of the family Octopoteuthidae. They belong to the pelagic squids of order Oegopsida. Found at depths of 400 to 800 m (1,300 to 2,600 ft) in the Pacific Ocean, they have been known to grow to 24 cm (9.4 in).
Biology
Trophic ecology
This species is described as an inactive predator, having a lower metabolism and relying on ambush,[3][4] though members of this genus are higher in trophic level than glass squids and active hunters like Todaropsis eblanae.[5]
O. deletron has been found to break off its arms as a defense strategy. The squid digs hooks in one of its arms into a predator and jets away, leaving the arm in the predator's skin.[6]
O. deletron are the most common species found in the stomachs of northern elephant seals sampled off the coast of California.[7] It is an important prey item of the giant grenadier.[8] It is also eaten by the enigmatic Perrin's beaked whale (Mesoplodon perrini).[6]
Reproduction
The male O. deletron has a penis, which is unusual among squids. Males find it difficult to detect the sex of other individuals they encounter in the dark depths, so they have adopted a strategy of attaching sperm packets to all individuals they meet.[9] This behavior has earned it the moniker of "bisexual squid".[10][11][12]
References
- ^ Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Octopoteuthis deletron". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163334A999352. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T163334A999352.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Julian Finn (2016). "Octopoteuthis deletron Young, 1972". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ Goetsch, Chandra; Conners, Melinda G.; Budge, Suzanne M.; Mitani, Yoko; Walker, William A.; Bromaghin, Jeffrey F.; Simmons, Samantha E.; Reichmuth, Colleen; Costa, Daniel P. (20 November 2018). "Energy-Rich Mesopelagic Fishes Revealed as a Critical Prey Resource for a Deep-Diving Predator Using Quantitative Fatty Acid Signature Analysis". Frontiers in Marine Science. 5: 430. Bibcode:2018FrMaS...5..430G. doi:10.3389/fmars.2018.00430.
- ^ Henk-Jan T. Hoving; Jose Angel A. Perez; Kathrin S.R. Bolstad; Heather E. Braid; Aaron B. Evans; Dirk Fuchs; Heather Judkins; Jesse T. Kelly; José E.A.R. Marian; Ryuta Nakajima; Uwe Piatkowski; Amanda Reid; Michael Vecchione; José C.C. Xavier (2014). Chapter Three - The Study of Deep-Sea Cephalopods, in Advances in Cephalopod Science: Biology, Ecology, Cultivation and Fisheries (Volume 67 ed.). Academic Press. pp. 235–359. ISBN 9780128002872. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Kremer, Kira Izabela; Hagen, Wilhelm; Oesterwind, Daniel; Duncan, Sabrina; Bode-Dalby, Maya; Dorschner, Sabrina; Dudeck, Tim; Sell, Anne F. (2025-01-28). "Trophic ecology of squids in the Benguela Upwelling System elucidated by combining stomach content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses". Marine Biology. 172 (2): 32. doi:10.1007/s00227-024-04592-2. ISSN 1432-1793.
- ^ a b Stromberg, Michael. "This Deep-Sea Squid Breaks Off Its Own Arms to Confuse Predators". Smithsonian.com. With video. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ Le Beouf, Burney J.; Richard M. Laws (1994). Elephant Seals: Population ecology, behavior, and physiology. University of California Press. pp. 213–214. ISBN 978-0-520-08364-6.
- ^ Drazen, Jeffrey C; Buckley, Troy W; Hoff, Gerald R (2001). "The feeding habits of slope dwelling macrourid fishes in the eastern North Pacific". Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 48 (3): 909–935. Bibcode:2001DSRI...48..909D. doi:10.1016/S0967-0637(00)00058-3.
- ^ Gorman, James (21 September 2011), "Amorous Squid Seeks Partner: Any Sex Will Do", The New York Times, New York, p. A1
- ^ Watson, Traci. "Squid Males "Bisexual"—Evolved Shot-in-the-Dark Mating Strategy". nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Morelle, Rebecca (21 September 2011). "Light shed on bisexual and promiscuous deep-sea squid". bbc.com. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Pappas, Stephanie (21 September 2011). "Bisexual squid species isn't picky about mate". nbcnews.com. NBCUniversal Media. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
External links