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Grimpoteuthis boylei Collins 2003

Martin Collins, Michael Vecchione, and Richard E. Young
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Containing group: Grimpoteuthis

Introduction

Grimpoteuthis boylei is a large abyssal species described from the N. E. Atlantic from ten individuals.

Characteristics



  1. Arms and web
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    Figure. Oral view of arms and web of G. boylei, paratype, female, 115 mm ML. Drawing from Collins (2003).

    1. Arms long, subequal in length.
    2. Web extends 2/3 of arm length; extends further on dorsal arms.
    3. Web formula: A>B>C>D>E.
    4. Single web nodule prominent on ventral side of each arm; located at sucker 31 (arm I), 28 (arm II), 25 (arm III) or 24 (arm IV).
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      Figure. Oral view of arm I of G. boylei, holotype, male, 90 mm ML. Drawing from Collins (2003).

    5. Sucker count 55-58.
    6. Maximum sucker diameter between suckers 25 and 35.
    7. Cirri long (mean CLI 12.2).
    8. First cirri between suckers 4 and 7.
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      Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

      Figure. Lateral view of suckers and cirri of G. boylei, holotype, male, 90 mm ML. Drawing from Collins (2003).

  2. Shell
    1. U-shaped with distinct depression on outer surface of saddle.
    2. Inner surface of saddle convex.
    3. Lateral wing with blunt termination.
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      Figure. Lateral (left), dorsal (middle) and ventral (right) views of the shell of G. boylei, male, 65 mm ML. Drawings from Collins (2003).

Comments

The above description is from Collins, 2003. More details of the description of G. boylei can be found here. The holotype is a 90 mm ML male.

Among other Atlantic species, Grimpoteuthis boylei differs in having a depression on the outer surface of the shell saddle. In addition it differs from:

Life History

Egg capsules containing mature ovarian eggs measure 18-20 mm in longest dimension.

Distribution

The type locality is the Porcupine Abyssal Plain at 48°47'N, 16°30'W; depth - 4845-4847 m. In addition to the type locality this species is known from the Porcupine Seabight and the Madeira Abyssal Plain but probably occurs from 20°N to 50°N in the NE Atlantic (Collins, 2002).

References

Collins, M. A. 2003. The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the North-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species. Zool. Journ. Linnean Soc., 139: 93-127.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Grimpoteuthis boylei
Location 50°N, 14°W
Reference Collins, M. A. 2003. The genus Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Grimpoteuthidae) in the North-east Atlantic, with descriptions of three new species. Zool. Journ. Linnean Soc., 139: 93-127.
Sex Female
View Dorsal, ventral
Size 440 mm TL
Type Paratype
Copyright © Martin Collins
About This Page

Martin Collins
Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, UK


National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

All Rights Reserved.

Citing this page:

Collins, Martin, Michael Vecchione, and Richard E. Young. 2003. Grimpoteuthis boylei Collins 2003. Version 13 May 2003 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Grimpoteuthis_boylei/20119/2003.05.13 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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