Opisthoteuthis hardyi explained

Opisthoteuths hardyi is a lesser-known octopus species. It was described in 2002 from a male caught off the Shag Rocks, which are far south in the Atlantic Ocean near the Falkland Islands.^[1]

The specimen was medium-sized, with a mantle of 45mm long. The whole body was 250mm long.^[2] It had some enlarged suckers, which is typical for male octopuses belonging to Opisthoteuthis. It also had a web connecting its long arms, which is common for cirrate octopuses and some incirrate octopuses.^[1]

The specimen was found in the open ocean between 800m (2,600feet) and 1000m (3,000feet) deep.^[1] However, the true depth range is wider. After 2002, dozens more specimens, likely O. hardyi, were discovered on the Patagonian Shelf from NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) deep.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Further reading

• Martin A. Collins . Vladimir Laptikhovsky . Jan M. Strugnell . Expanded description of Opisthoteuthis hardyi based on new specimens from the Patagonian slope . Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom . 2010 . 90 . 3 . 605–611 . 10.1017/S0025315409000988. 86449884 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Roger Villanueva . Michael Vecchione . Richard E. Young . Opisthoteuthis hardyi . Tree of Life Web Project . May 2003.
2. Sánchez . P. . Villanueva . R. . Voss . N.A. . Systematics, distribution and biology of the cirrate octopods of the genus Opisthoteuthis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) in the Atlantic Ocean, with description of two new species . Bulletin of Marine Science . 2002 . 71 . 2 . 933-985 . 0007-4977.
3. Book: Jereb. Patrizia. Roper. Clyde F.E.. Norman. Mark D.. Finn. Julian K.. Cephalopods of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Cephalopod Species Known to Date. 2016. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome, Italy. 978-92-5-107989-8. 256.
4. Book: Alan J. Southward . Craig M. Young . Lee A. Fuiman . Advances in Marine Biology: Volume 50 . June 2006 . Elsevier Science . 9780080463339.
5. Book: Ashton Acton . Q. . Issues in Life Sciences: Aquatic and Marine Life: 2011 Edition . 2012 . New marine biology data have been reported by M.A. Collins and co-authors . ScholarlyEditions . 9781464965487.