Idioteuthis cordiformis

Idioteuthis cordiformis is a species of whip-lash squid found in tropical regions of the west Pacific Ocean. The species is commonly known as the 'love-heart squid' because the species name cordiformis is Latin for 'heart shaped'. Recently, this species has been found to consume shark.[3]

Idioteuthis cordiformis
Holotype of Idioteuthis cordiformis
(83 mm ML)

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Oegopsida
Family: Mastigoteuthidae
Genus: Idioteuthis
Species:
I. cordiformis
Binomial name
Idioteuthis cordiformis
(Chun, 1908)[2]
Synonyms
  • Mastigoteuthis cordiformis
    Chun, 1908

Description

Idioteuthis cordiformis is a large, deep-sea species that attains a mantle length (body length) of over one meter in length.[4] Although multiple specimens have been carefully observed, they are often damaged during capture. Therefore, different authorities have described variations in the colouration of this species: pale flesh-pink, yellowish with small reddish-brown chromatophores, dark purple pigmentation with purple chromatophores overlaid with greyish tubercles, or having thickly crowded deep brownish chromatophores. In life, these animals appear dark red or purple [5] Like all squids, it has eight arms. Like other species in this family, it also has two long, whip-like tentacles. The tentacles of this species are unique in this family in that they contain some large suckers, while other mastigoteuthids have small to microscopic suckers. The largest tentacle suckers of I. cordiformis are nearly the same size as the arm suckers, but the size diminishes towards the very ends of the tentacles and the suckers become very small [5]

The skin is rough and covered with small, conical tubercules on round plaques. The dark red or purple pigment is found in densely packed chromatophores but there are no photophores present on the skin.[6] However, each eye has a large crescent shaped photophore.[4] The head is separated from the mantle by a collar. The funnel is widely conical with a recurved end. The funnel attaches to the mantle with a locking apparatus. The funnel component has the form of a human ear, while the mantle component is shaped like a human nose. Like most squids, the eyes are large and highly developed, with relatively large lobes of the brain dedicated to their control.[7] The posterior end of the mantle has a heart-shaped fin, which extends three quarters of the way along the mantle.[8]

Distribution

Idioteuthis cordiformis is found in tropical waters around Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.[9]

  • Arm sucker
  • Arm sucker
  • Oral (top) and aboral (bottom) views of tentacular club
  • Oral-oblique view of club sucker
  • Lateral view of club sucker
  • Ventral view of funnel locking apparatus
  • Idioteuthis cordiformis in a museum
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gollark: If you can give them physical objects, it is very easy, since you can just write "this is the front", "this is the right", and so on.
gollark: The screens might not be built the same way round. You seem to be missing the point.

References
  1. Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Mastigoteuthis cordiformis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T162902A951582. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T162902A951582.en. Downloaded on 01 March 2018.
  2. Philippe Bouchet (2018). "Idioteuthis cordiformis (Chun, 1908)". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  3. http://deepseanews.com/2015/03/squid-1-shark-0/
  4. Braid, 2013
  5. http://tolweb.org/Idioteuthis_cordiformis/19510
  6. Tree of Life Web Project
  7. Deep-Sea Cephalopods
  8. Chun, C. 1910. Die Cephalopoden. Oegopsida. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee Expedition auf dem Dampfer "Valdivia" 1898-1899, 18(1):1-401.
  9. SeaLifeBase
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