Opisthoteuthis borealis

Opisthoteuthis borealis is a lesser-known species of octopus found near Greenland and Iceland,[1] especially in the Davis Strait.[2] The species was described from 9 specimens, and is one of the most recent Opisthoteuthis species described. Not much is known about it besides its anatomy and habitat.[3]

Opisthoteuthis borealis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Opisthoteuthidae
Genus: Opisthoteuthis
Species:
O. borealis
Binomial name
Opisthoteuthis borealis
Collins, 2005[2]

Description

Opisthoteuthis borealis belongs to the order Cirrata, a subdivision of octopuses which have fleshy fins to assist in swimming, internal shells supporting their bodies, and two threadlike structures called cirri for each sucker. Many cirrate octopuses live in deep water.[4]

Octopuses in the species Opisthoteuthis borealis have mantles up to 75 mm (3.0 in) long. They are medium-sized when compared to closely related species.[5] They have long arms and large eyes.[4]

Males of O. borealis have some enlarged suckers; their purpose is unknown. Females don't have enlarged suckers.[5] This specific kind of sex difference, or sexual dimorphism, is also seen in Opisthoteuthis albatrossi and Opisthoteuthis californiana.[6] Some of the males' arms are thickened compared to the arms of females.[4]

Anatomically, this species is most similar to Opisthoteuthis grimaldii.[7]

Habitat

Of all species of Opisthoteuthis found in the Atlantic Ocean, O. borealis lives the furthest north. They are found near Greenland and Iceland[1] at depths of 957–1,321 m (3,140–4,334 ft) deep. They live in waters with a small temperature range of 3.0–3.5 °C (37.4–38.3 °F).[5] These octopuses occupy the benthic zone, on and just above the seafloor.[1] The species is of little or no interest to fisheries.[8]

References
  1. Lyons, G.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Opisthoteuthis borealis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T176049A1424934.en.
  2. "Opisthoteuthis borealis Collins, 2005". World Register of Marine Species.
  3. Collins, Martin A.; Laptikhovsky, Vladimir; Strugnell, Jan M. (May 2010). "Expanded description of Opisthoteuthis hardyi based on new specimens from the Patagonian slope". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Cambridge, UK: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 90 (3): 605–611. doi:10.1017/S0025315409000988.
  4. Collins, Martin A. (December 2005). "Opisthoteuthis borealis: a new species of cirrate octopod from Greenland waters". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 85 (6): 1475-1479. doi:10.1017/S002531540501266X.
  5. Collins, Martin; Villanueva, Roger; Young, Richard E. (2016). "Opisthoteuthis borealis". Tree of Life Web Project.
  6. Vecchione, Michael; Young, Richard E. (2003). "Opisthoteuthis albatrossi". Tree of Life Web Project.
  7. Martin A. Collins; Roger Villanueva (June 2006). "Taxonomy, Ecology and Behaviour of the Cirrate Octopods". Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, volume 44. CRC Press. p. 277-322. ISBN 9781420006391. OCLC 309866539.
  8. Jereb, Patrizia; Roper, Clyde F.E.; Norman, Mark D.; Finn, Julian K. (2016). Cephalopods of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Cephalopod Species Known to Date (PDF). Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 250. ISBN 978-92-5-107989-8.
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