(Steenstrup, 1882)

Description:
A small nektonic squid with a thin, narrow, weakly muscular, cylindrical mantle. Head is small and narrow. Fin is transversely rhomboidal or widely heart-shaped, not attenuated or just slightly attenuated posteriorly. Larvae have a long neck. Arms with two rows of suckers. There are many rows of small suckers in the proximal part of the tentacular club, the distal part with 4-6 rows of initially large and then gradually smaller suckers. Mantle length up to 10-17 cm. Fin length 35-50 % of the mantle length. Mantle is nearly colourless, with scarce small chromatophores.

Habitat:
Young animals are epi-mesopelagic, adults found also in the bathypelagic zone.

Distribution:
Probably a cosmopolitan species, except for boreal Pacific (Distr. B. riisei).

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Cephalopoda
Subclass Coleoidea
Order Teuthoidea
Suborder Oegopsida
Family Brachioteuthidae
Genus Brachioteuthis
Species Brachioteuthis riisei

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Brachioteuthis riisei (Steenstrup, 1882)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Tracheloteuthis riisei

Muus, B.J., 1959. Skallus Søtaender Blaeksprutter. Danmarks Fauna, 65. Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening.

Nesis, K.N., 1987. Cephalopods of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Ltd.

Poppe, G.T. & Y. Goto, 1993. European Seashells. Vol. II. 221 pp. Wiesbaden/Verlag Christa Hemmen.

Seaward, D.R., 1990. Distribution of the marine molluscs of north west Europe. Nature Conservancy Council.

No distribution map was available at OBIS the last time we checked. Retry now.

For further info about Brachioteuthis riisei, you can also look up this species under:

You can continue searching for Brachioteuthis riisei on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

Google | Yahoo | MSN | Wikipedia