Helicocranchia pfefferi, the banded piglet squid, is a small squid of the genus Helicocranchia. Adults of this species are mesopelaegic.
| Banded piglet squid | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ventral view of a specimen taken off Southern California (41 mm ML) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Family: | Cranchiidae |
| Subfamily: | Taoniinae |
| Genus: | Helicocranchia |
| Species: | H. pfefferi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Helicocranchia pfefferi | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Helicocranchia beebei Robson, 1948 | |
Physical characteristics
editThe average size of adult H. pfefferi is 100 mm (3.9 in) in mantle length (ML). The body consists of a large funnel with small paddle-like fins. They have small tentacles above their eyes. The funnel does not have valves, but contains a dorsal pad with three papillae as organs.[citation needed] Paddle-shaped fins are attached to a part of the gladius. H. pfefferi has a single ocular photophore and does not have photophores at its arm tips.
Habitat
editAs paralarvae (<30 mm ML), they live near the surface of the oceans, between 100 m and 200 m deep. They descend to the mesopelagic zone as they mature, but exhibit a diel vertical migration pattern.[3]
References
edit- ^ Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Helicocranchia pfefferi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T162906A951921. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T162906A951921.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Julian Finn (2016). "Helicocranchia pfefferi Massy, 1907". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Lu, C.C. & M.R. Clarke (1975). "Vertical Distribution of Cephalopods at 11° N 20° W in the North Atlantic". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 55 (2): 369–389. doi:10.1017/S0025315400016003. S2CID 250946620.
Prey
editIts diet resembles that of most squid: fish, shrimp, and squid.
- Young, R.E. & K.M. Mangold (1922-2003). 2006. Helicocranchia Massy, 1907. Version 16 July 2006 (under construction). In: The Tree of Life Web Project.
External links
edit
- "CephBase: Helicocranchia pfefferi". Archived from the original on 2005-08-17.
- Images of Helicocranchia from the SERPENT Project
- Blog post with much information