Molluscan ResearchISSN 1323-5818
 An international journal of the Malacological Society of Australasia published by Magnolia Press

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Molluscan Research 28(3): 145-157; published 22 Dec. 2008
Copyright © The Malacological Society of Australasia

Two new species of pygmy octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from deep water off the Ryukyu Archipelago, southern Japan

NATSUMI KANEKO & TSUNEMI KUBODERA1
Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 169-0073 Japan.
E-mail: kubodera@kahaku.go.jp (1
corresponding author)

Abstract

Two new species of pygmy octopuses are described from upper bathyal waters (350–370 m) around the Ryukyu Archipelago. Bathypolypus rubrostictus n. sp. is characterized by its small body (20 mm ML), short arms (2–2.5×ML), no enlarged suckers, large spoon-shaped ligula with five deep transverse laminae and large round calamus. There are numerous small brownish-red spots on the dorsal surface of the mantle, which is smooth, without papillae, and webs are pale reddish brown. Octopus diminutus n. sp. is characterized by its diminutive adult body size (13–17 mm ML), short arms (2–3×ML), enlarged suckers on the arms of the male, very large pointed calamus, pale brown body colour, and elongate compound superocular papillae. The generic placement of the two species and taxonomic definitions of the genera Octopus and Bathypolypus are discussed.

Key words: Bathypolypus rubrostictus, Octopus diminutus, bathyal zone.

Full article (PDF; 540 KB)

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