Chtenopteryx sicula

Chtenopteryx sicula, also known as the comb-finned squid or toothed-fin squid, is a species of squid native to at least the Mediterranean Sea. It is characterised by several distinct morphological features: ocular photophores are present but visceral photophores are absent, arm suckers are arranged in at least 4 series distally, and club suckers are borne in more than 8 series.

Comb-finned squid
Chtenopteryx sicula caught off Naples.
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Bathyteuthida
Family:	Chtenopterygidae
Genus:	Chtenopteryx
Species:	C. sicula
Binomial name
Chtenopteryx sicula (Vérany, 1851)[2]
Synonyms[2]
Calliteuthis nevroptera Jatta, 1896 Chtenopteryx fimbriatus Appellöf, 1890 Chtenopteryx siculus (Vérany, 1851) Ctenopteryx cyprinoides Joubin, 1894 Ctenopteryx sicula (Vérany, 1851) Sepioteuthis sicula Vérany, 1851

The type specimen was collected off Messina, Italy; the specific name sicula means "of Sicily". It is deposited at the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle (Musée Barla) in Nice.^[3]

Gallery

• 
  Ventral view of the viscera, showing the absence of a visceral photophore and the presence of the accessory nidamental gland.
• 
  Fresh-caught specimens of C. sicula from the North Atlantic
• 
  Chtenopteryx sicula paralarvae. Left: Two very young paralarvae. The circular tentacular clubs bear approximately 20 irregularly arranged suckers. Two chromatophores are present on each side of the mantle. Centre: Ventral, dorsal and side views of a more advanced paralarva. An equatorial circulet of seven large yellow-brown chromatophores is present on the mantle. Posteriorly the expanded vanes of the gladius are visible in the dorsal view. Right: Ventral and dorsal views of a very advanced paralarva.