Opisthoteuthis medusoides
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Opisthoteuthis medusoides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1915 drawing of O. medusoides | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Opisthoteuthidae |
| Genus: | Opisthoteuthis |
| Species: | O. medusoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Opisthoteuthis medusoides Thiele, 1915[2] | |
Opisthoteuthis medusoides is a cirrate octopus living off the coast of Tanzania near Dar es Salaam.[1] However, its actual range may be more extensive.[2]
The octopus lives 400 m (1,300 ft) deep, where it occupies the benthic zone, or seafloor.[3]
The species is known from only two juvenile octopuses.[4] 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.[5] "A redescription of this species is badly needed," write Richard E. Young and Michael Vecchione, both scientists who research cephalopods.[6]
