Rossia pacifica diegensis explained

Rossia pacifica diegensis is a subspecies of bobtail squid native to the eastern Pacific Ocean off Santa Catalina Basin, California. It occurs at greater depths than its sister taxon R. p. pacifica.^[1]

R. p. diegensis grows to 30abbr=inNaNabbr=in in mantle length.^[2] This subspecies is smaller and more delicate in structure than R. p. pacifica. Relative to its mantle size, it possesses larger fins and arm suckers, the latter being predominantly arranged in two rows.

The type specimen was collected off California and is deposited at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.^[3]

The validity of R. p. diegensis has been questioned.

Notes and References

1. Reid, A. & P. Jereb 2005. Family Sepiolidae. In: P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 153–203.
2. http://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/spdb/mantlelength.cfm?CephID=157 Mantle Length of Rossia pacifica diegensis
3. http://www.mnh.si.edu/cephs/newclass.pdf Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda