{{Short description|Genus of squids}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Megalocranchia fisheri.jpg | image_caption = ''Megalocranchia fisheri'' | taxon = Megalocranchia | authority = Pfeffer, 1884<ref name = WoRMS>{{cite web | url = http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137852 | title = ''Megalocranchia'' Pfeffer, 1884 | accessdate = 1 March 2018 | publisher = Flanders Marine Institute | author = Julian Finn | year = 2016 | work = World Register of Marine Species}}</ref> | type_species = ''Megalocranchia maxima'' | type_species_authority = Pfeffer, 1884 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = ''Megalocranchia'' sp. A<br> ''Megalocranchia abyssicola''<br> ''Megalocranchia fisheri''<br> ''Megalocranchia maxima''<br> ''Megalocranchia oceanica'' }}
'''''Megalocranchia''''' is a genus of glass squids. It occurs circumglobally in tropical and subtropical waters.<ref>Voss N. A., S. J. Stephen & Zh. Dong 1992. Family Cranchiidae Prosch, 1849. ''Smithson. Contributions Zool.'' '''513''': 187-210.</ref>
== Description == Some members of the genus ''Megalocranchia'' can reach large sizes, up to 1800mm in the case of ''M. fisheri''. Young paralarvae often resemble other members of the Cranchiidae, having transparent bodies to aid in camouflage. Where the internal organs cannot be made transparent, for example in the digestive system, visceral photophores can be found. These visceral photophores are unique to this genus within the family. The paralarvae also have a thick gelatinous dermis covering the mantle, which again is unique to the ''Megalocranchia'' within the family. This dermis also features patches of orange chromatophores in juvenile individuals.
==References== {{Reflist}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131112020822/http://www.caymannewsservice.com/science-and-nature/2013/10/22/giant-squid-found-cayman-head-us-museum Giant squid found in Cayman head to US museum]. Cayman News Service, 22 October 2013. <!--https://www.webcitation.org/6L3w5AKzB--> * [http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2013/10/23/royal-caribbean-helps-transport-giant-squid-museum Royal Caribbean helps transport giant squid to museum]. Royal Caribbean Blog, 23 October 2013. <!--https://www.webcitation.org/6L3w2O0v3-->
==External links==
{{CephBase Genus|Megalocranchia}} *[http://tolweb.org/Megalocranchia/19562 Tree of Life web project: ''Megalocranchia'']
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Category:Taoniinae Category:Bioluminescent molluscs
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