Ommastrephidae

Family of squids From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ommastrephidae

Ommastrephidae is a family of squid containing three subfamilies, 11 genera, and over 20 species. They are widely distributed globally and are extensively fished for food. One species, Todarodes pacificus, comprised around half of the world's cephalopod catch annually.[2]

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Subfamilies ...
Ommastrephidae
Temporal range: Pliocene - recent[1]
Thumb
Lesser flying squid (Todaropsis eblanae)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Oegopsida
Superfamily: Cranchioidea
Family: Ommastrephidae
Steenstrup, 1857
Subfamilies

Illicinae
Ommastrephinae
Todarodinae
...and see text

Close

Some members of Ommastrephidae are known for their jet-propelled flight, earning them the common name of "flying squid".[3]

Description

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Funnel grooves of ommastrephid subfamilies

The ommastrephids are small to large squids, with mantle lengths ranging from that of the glass squid (Hyaloteuthis pelagica) at 9 cm (3.5 in),[4] to the Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) at 1.5 m (4.9 ft).[5] The mantle narrows towards the back and possesses large terminal fins.[6] The family is characterized by an inverted T-shaped funnel locking cartilage.[7][6] They have an easily recognizable, slender, feather-shaped gladius with a hollow cone structure (the primary conus). Light organs (photophores) are present along the head and mantle of members of the subfamily Ommastrephinae.[7][6]

Thumb
The gladius of Illex illecebrosus

Ommastrephid arms have a double series of suckers. The enlarged tips (the clubs) of the tentacles have four rows of suckers, except in the genus Illex, which has eight. Hooks are absent. One of the ventral arms develops into a secondary sexual organ (the hectocotylus) in males.[2]

All ommastrephids are active predators. Their arms and tentacles bear sharp teeth and are used to grasp and bring prey to their beaked mouths.[8] They are very strong swimmers, and some species are known to glide out of water to escape predators.[7]

Ommastrephid paralarvae are distinctive for having fused tentacles, looking like a single "proboscis". It gradually splits into two as the paralarvae grow becoming completely separated once they reach mantle lengths of 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in).[7][8]

Distribution and habitat

Ommastrephids usually occur in pelagic waters, but can also be found in neritic habitats.[7] They are found worldwide.[2][8]

Taxonomy

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Northern shortfin squid
(Illex illecebrosus)
Thumb
Humboldt squid
(Dosidicus gigas)
Thumb
Neon flying squid
(Ommastrephes bartramii)
Thumb
Sevenstar flying squid
(Martialia hyadesii)
Thumb
Japanese flying squid
(Todarodes pacificus)

Ommastrephidae was first established by the Danish zoologist Japetus Steenstrup in 1857. It is classified under the suborder Oegopsina of the order Teuthida (squids). It is divided into five subfamilies which are further subdivided into 11 genera and more than 20 species.

The following subfamilies, genera, and species are classified in the family Ommastrephidae:

  • Family Ommastrephidae
  • Subfamily Ornithoteuthinae
Subfamily Todaropsinae

See also

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.