Echinoteuthis Explained

Echinoteuthis is a genus of whip-lash squid containing approximately three to five species. Some teuthologists consider Idioteuthis synonymous with this taxon.

The genus contains bioluminescent species.^[1]

Species

According to the World Register of Marine Species the genus Echinoteuthis contains three species:

• Echinoteuthis atlantica (Joubin, 1933)
• Echinoteuthis danae Joubin, 1933
• Echinoteuthis famelica (Berry, 1909)

However, the Tree of Life Project lists the following species in Echinoteuthis:^[2]

• Echinoteuthis atlantica (Joubin, 1933)
• Echinoteuthis glaukopis Chun, 1908
• Echinoteuthis famelica (Berry, 1909)
• Echinoteuthis danae Joubin, 1933
• Echinoteuthis tyroi * Salcedo-Vargas, 1997

The species listed above with an asterisk (*) is a taxon inquirendum and needs further study to determine if it is a valid species or a synonym.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Herring . Peter J. . Systematic distribution of bioluminescence in living organisms . Journal of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence . 1987 . 3. 1 . 147–163. 10.1002/bio.1170010303 . 3503524 .
2. Web site: Echinoteuthis Joubin, 1933 . 1 March 2018 . Tree of Life Project . Richard E. Young . 2014 . 1 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164625/http://tolweb.org/Echinoteuthis/65305 . dead .
3. Web site: Mastigoteuthis Verrill, 1881 . 1 March 2018 . Flanders Marine Institute . Philippe Bouchet . 2018 . World Register of Marine Species.