{{Short description|Family of squids}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Taningia danae Joubin 1931.jpg | image_caption = ''Taningia danae'' | taxon = Octopoteuthidae | authority = Berry, 1912 <ref name = WoRMS>{{cite web | url = http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=11741 | title = Octopoteuthidae, Berry, 1912 | accessdate = 10 March 2018 | publisher = Flanders Marine Institute | year = 2016 | author = Julian Finn | work = World Register of Marine Species}}</ref> | type_genus = ''Octopoteuthis'' | type_genus_authority = Rüppell, 1844 | synonyms = Octopoteuthoidea <small>S. S. Berry, 1912</small> }}
The '''Octopoteuthidae''' are a family of squid comprising two genera. The family is characterized by tentacles which cease to grow after the paralarval stage which leads to the adult having eight arms; thus, members of this family are commonly named as '''octopus squids'''.
==Description== Octopoteuthidae is considered to be closely related to the monotypic family Lepidoteuthidae (genus ''Lepidoteuthis''), sometimes being its sister family.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fernández-Álvarez |first1=Fernando Ángel |last2=Taite |first2=Morag |last3=Vecchione |first3=Michael |last4=Villanueva |first4=Roger |last5=Louise |first5=Allcock |title=A phylogenomic look into the systematics of oceanic squids |url=https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/194/4/1212/6377132 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=academic.oup.com |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab069|doi-access=free |hdl=10261/267184 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Massyae">{{cite journal |last1=O’Shea |first1=Steve |last2=Jackson |first2=G. |last3=Bolstad |first3=K. S. |title=The nomenclatural status, ontogeny and morphology of Pholidoteuthis massyae (Pfeffer, 1912) new comb (Cephalopoda: Pholidoteuthidae) |journal=Rev Fish Biol Fisheries |date=2007 |volume=17 |issue=2–3 |pages=425–435 |doi=10.1007/s11160-007-9047-9 |bibcode=2007RFBF...17..425O |url=https://tonmo.com/attachments/pholidoteuthis-pdf.65515/ |access-date=30 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="Systematics"/>
Octopus squids are characterized by a semi-gelatinous body, with very long, broad fins; the fins approach the length of the mantle in adults. These are oval in shape and muscular, with the two fins being fused towards the midline of the mantle. Their namesake feature is the lack of tentacles in adults; paralarvae and young juveniles possess them, but they do not develop after this stage, and so the adults only have eight arms like an octopus; these arms are armed with hooks. They do not have a hectocotylus; rather, they have a "penis" or terminal organ, which is "often greatly enlarged, elongate", extending well beyond the mantle's opening. Photophores are present on the arm-tips, and these are useful in distinguishing the genera.<ref name="Diagnosis">{{cite book |last1=Roper |first1=C.F.E. |last2=Jereb |first2=P. |title=Family Octopoteuthidae. In P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 2. Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 2. |date=2010 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization |location=Rome |pages=262–268. |edition=4 |url=https://www.fao.org/4/i1920e/i1920e.pdf |access-date=5 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Family Octopoteuthidae - octopus squids |url=https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=1919 |website=sealifebase.ca |publisher=SeaLifeBase |access-date=6 April 2025}}</ref>
The family comprises two genera. A 2019 study recovered some additional species and separates ''Octopoteuthis'' into four species groups, though further research is needed to confirm this:<ref name="Systematics">{{Cite thesis|title=Systematics of the Octopoteuthidae Berry, 1912 (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida)|url=https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/13046|publisher=Auckland University of Technology|date=2019|language=en|first=Jesse Tyler|last=Kelly}}</ref>
*Genus ''Octopoteuthis'' (spindle-shaped photophore on all arm tips; smaller bodied)<ref name = Octop>{{cite web | url = https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138271 | title = Octopoteuthis Rüppell, 1844 | accessdate = 9 April 2026 | publisher = Flanders Marine Institute | year = 2016 | author = Julian Finn | work = World Register of Marine Species}}</ref><ref name="Diagnosis"/> **''Octopoteuthis danae'' **''Octopoteuthis deletron''<!-- Marine Mammal Science 18(3): 577-608 --> **''Octopoteuthis fenestra'' * **''Octopoteuthis indica'' **''Octopoteuthis laticauda'' * **''Octopoteuthis leviuncus'' * **''Octopoteuthis longiptera'' (''nomen dubium'') **''Octopoteuthis megaptera'' **''Octopoteuthis nielseni'' **''Octopoteuthis rugosa'' **''Octopoteuthis sicula'', Ruppell's octopus squid **''Octopoteuthis sp.'' "IO" * **''Octopoteuthis sp.'' "Giant Pacific" * **''Octopoteuthis sp.'' "Giant Atlantic" *
*Genus ''Taningia'' (large, oval photophore on tip of arm-pair II; larger bodied)<ref name = Taning>{{cite web | url = https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138272 | title = Taningia Joubin, 1931 | accessdate = 9 April 2026 | publisher = Flanders Marine Institute | year = 2016 | author = Julian Finn | work = World Register of Marine Species}}</ref><ref name="Diagnosis"/> **''Taningia danae'', Dana octopus squid **''Taningia fimbria'' * **''Taningia persica'' (''taxon inquirendum'') **''Taningia rubea'' * **''Taningia silasii'' **''Taningia sp.'' IV * **''Taningia sp.'' V *
Species recovered by the 2019 study is marked by an asterisk (*). These have not yet been accepted by various online taxonomic databases.<ref>{{cite web |title= 10 Species in Family Octopoteuthidae |url=https://www.sealifebase.ca/Nomenclature/FamilySearchList.php?Family=Octopoteuthidae |website=sealifebase.ca |publisher=SeaLifeBase |access-date=6 April 2025}}</ref><ref name = WoRMS/>
==See also== * Stubby squid ==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{CephBase Family|Octopoteuthidae}} *[https://tonmo.com/forums/octopoteuthidae.61/ Octopoteuthidae discussion forum at TONMO.com] *[http://tolweb.org/Octopoteuthidae/19834 Tree of Life web project: Octopoteuthidae]
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Category:Octopoteuthidae Category:Octopoteuthoidea Category:Cephalopod families