Opisthoteuthis medusoides explained
Opisthoteuthis medusoides is a cirrate octopus living off the coast of Tanzania near Dar es Salaam. However, its actual range may be more extensive.
The octopus lives 400m (1,300feet) deep, where it occupies the benthic zone, or seafloor.[1]
The species is known from only two juvenile octopuses.[2] Both had little pigment. Because of the octopus' medusoid (jellyfish-like) body shape, the species was given the name medusoides. Male opisthoteuthids generally have enlarged suckers on multiple arms; O. medusoides is different, having enlarged suckers on only one arm.[3] "A redescription of this species is badly needed," write Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione, both scientists who research cephalopods.[4]
External links
Notes and References
- Book: M.A. Collins . R. Villanueva . Gordon . J.D.M. . Atkinson . R.J.A. . Gibson . R.N. . Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, Volume 44 . June 13, 2006 . 9781420006391 . 297 . Taxonomy, ecology and behaviour of the cirrate octopods.. CRC Press .
- Book: Jereb . P. . Cephalopods of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Cephalopod Species Known to Date ยท Volume 3 . 2005 . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations . 9789251079898 . 256 .
- Book: NIWA Biodiversity Memoir Issue 112 . 1999 . National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) . 28.
- Web site: Young . Richard E. . Vecchione . Michael . Opisthoteuthis medusoides . Tree of Life Web Project . May 13, 2003.
