Opisthoteuthis robsoni

Opisthoteuthis robsoni, also known as the deep-water umbrella octopus,[3] is a deep-sea octopus living off New Zealand on the Chatham Rise. It has been found from 1,178–1,723 m (3,865–5,653 ft) below the surface. Not much is known about the octopus' habitat or life cycle, as only four specimens have been found.[1][4] It occupies the benthic zone, or the seafloor and the water directly above it. O. robsoni eats large amphipods.[5]

Opisthoteuthis robsoni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Opisthoteuthidae
Genus: Opisthoteuthis
Species:
O. robsoni
Binomial name
Opisthoteuthis robsoni
O'Shea, 1999[2]

The four specimens found so far are male. The species is somewhat large for a cirrate octopus, reaching a total length of 362 mm (14.3 in) long. The mantle, or body, was 65 mm (2.6 in) long.[6] Like other males in the genus Opisthoteuthis, these specimens had some enlarged suckers on their arms. Unlike their sister taxa, however, O. robsoni males have enlarged suckers in the proximal field rather than the distal field (enlarged suckers closer to the body rather than toward the tip of the arm).[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b G. Lyons; L. Allcock. "''Opisthoteuthis robsoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T162967A958991.
  2. ^ "Opisthoteuthis robsoni Berry, 1918". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute.
  3. ^ O'Shea, Steve (March 9, 2019). "Deep-sea finned Octopoda of New Zealand". Octopus News Magazine. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020.
  4. ^ M.A. Collins; R. Villanueva (June 13, 2006). "Taxonomy, ecology and behaviour of the cirrate octopods.". In Gordon, J.D.M.; Atkinson, R.J.A.; Gibson, R.N. (eds.). Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, Volume 44. CRC Press. p. 297. ISBN 9781420006391.
  5. ^ M.A. Collins; R. Villanueva (June 13, 2006). "Taxonomy, ecology and behaviour of the cirrate octopods.". In Gordon, J.D.M.; Atkinson, R.J.A.; Gibson, R.N. (eds.). Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, Volume 44. CRC Press. p. 308. ISBN 9781420006391.
  6. ^ Jereb, P. (2005). Cephalopods of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Cephalopod Species Known to Date · Volume 3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 257. ISBN 9789251079898.
  7. ^ Young, Richard E.; Vecchione, Michael (May 2003). "Opisthoteuthis robsoni". Tree of Life Web Project.