Haliphron atlanticus Steenstrup (Cephalopoda, Octopoda) from the coast of Norway

Morphological characteristics of two large females of Haliphron atlanticus STEENSTRUP (= Alloposus mollis VERRILL) are described and illustrated. The soft and gelatinous body, the shape of the mantle aperture, the formation of the funnel and adhesive apparatus, and the straplike septa connecting the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sarsia
Main Author: Willassen, Endre
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis 1986
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53893/
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53893/1/4551.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1080/00364827.1986.10419671
Description
Summary:Morphological characteristics of two large females of Haliphron atlanticus STEENSTRUP (= Alloposus mollis VERRILL) are described and illustrated. The soft and gelatinous body, the shape of the mantle aperture, the formation of the funnel and adhesive apparatus, and the straplike septa connecting the mantle and funnel and containing the stellate ganglion are characteristic features of the species. One specimen, weighing 41 kg after fixation, was found dead near Bergen (60°14′ N, 5°16′ E) in May 1983. The other, weighing 25 kg after being frozen, was caught alive at 210 m off Vestvägöy in the Lofoten archipelago (68°20′ N. 14°14′ E) in November 1984. It was possibly feeding on the prawn, Pandalus borealis KRøYER. Both specimens had arms partly missing and web torn, but were otherwise well preserved. Previous records of H. atlanticus are confined to tropical and warm-temperate areas. The present findings represent the first records from north of 42° N.