Grimpoteuthis megaptera

Grimpoteuthis megaptera
	Images of Grimpoteuthis megaptera from 1889.
Conservation status
	; Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Octopoda
Family:	Grimpoteuthidae
Genus:	Grimpoteuthis
Species:	G. megaptera
Binomial name
	Grimpoteuthis megaptera; Verrill, 1885
Synonyms
	Cirrhoteuthis megaptera; Cirroteuthis megaptera;

Grimpoteuthis megaptera is a species of octopus known from five specimens, collected by Addison Emery Verrill.^[1] Between two and three of these specimens may belong to different species.^[3]

Description and habitat

A black-and-white drawing of an octopus. — *Grimpoteuthis megaptera*

A drawing of an octopus, showing its arms and beak. — Oral view of *G. megaptera*

Grimpoteuthis megaptera lives in the Atlantic Ocean off of Martha's Vineyard in the United States. It was found 4,600 meters deep.^[3]

Its full length reaches 107 millimeters.^[4] Its eyes are small, as are its suckers and cirri.^[3] They can be distinguished between other species by its gill morphology, sucker count (52-70),^[5] and whether it has a radula and posterior salivary glands. The species exhibits high degrees of variability, which may be influenced by sexual dimorphism and preservation methods.

The octopus' arms and web, when viewed orally, are brown. G. megaptera has yellow suckers and a blue-white mantle and fins. The mantle is spotted with irregular brown-purple markings.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b Lyons, G.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Grimpoteuthis megaptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163106A973179. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T163106A973179.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bouchet, Philippe; Cuvelier, Daphne; Rosenberg, Gary. "Grimpoteuthis megaptera". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Vecchione, Michael; Young, Richard E. "Grimpoteuthis megaptera". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
^ Jereb, Patrizia; Roper, Clyde F.E.; Norman, Mark D.; Finn, Julian K., eds. (2016). Cephalopods of the World: an Annotated and Illustrated Catalog of Cephalopods Known to Date Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids (PDF). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. p. 263. ISBN 978-92-5-107989-8. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
^ Collins, Martin (2003). "The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the north-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species" (PDF). Zoological Journal. 139 (1): 93–137 – via Oxford Academic.

[iucn_status_11_November_2021-1] Lyons, G.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Grimpoteuthis megaptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163106A973179. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T163106A973179.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.

[WoRMS-2] Bouchet, Philippe; Cuvelier, Daphne; Rosenberg, Gary. "Grimpoteuthis megaptera". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

[TOL-3] Vecchione, Michael; Young, Richard E. "Grimpoteuthis megaptera". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

[FAO-4] Jereb, Patrizia; Roper, Clyde F.E.; Norman, Mark D.; Finn, Julian K., eds. (2016). Cephalopods of the World: an Annotated and Illustrated Catalog of Cephalopods Known to Date Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids (PDF). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. p. 263. ISBN 978-92-5-107989-8. Retrieved 26 April 2018.

[5] Collins, Martin (2003). "The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the north-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species" (PDF). Zoological Journal. 139 (1): 93–137 – via Oxford Academic.

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