Cirroteuthis kirrilyae
Species of octopus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cirroteuthis kirrilyae is a species of cirrate octopus in family Cirroteuthidae, previously confused with the closely related Cirroteuthis muelleri.[1] The species was described by T.J. Verhoeff and Steve O'Shea.
| Cirroteuthis kirrilyae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Cirroteuthidae |
| Genus: | Cirroteuthis |
| Species: | C. kirrilyae |
| Binomial name | |
| Cirroteuthis kirrilyae Verhoeff & O'Shea, 2025 | |
The species is known from specimens collected around Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, and is a pelagic or benthopelagic species known from a depth range of 1497-2581 m. The species may occur widely throughout the Pacific, with individuals possibly of this species observed by ROVs across the central and south-eastern Pacific. Specimens from off New Zealand were originally referred to as Cirroteuthis cf. muelleri, while material from the North-East Pacific (previously referred to C. muelleri) may also be this species, or represent further unknown taxa, given the apparent restriction of C. muelleri to the Arctic.[2]
Higher sucker counts, as well as differences in pigmentation seem to distinguish C. kirrilyae from C. muelleri, in addition to clear molecular differences.[2]
