Haliphron atlanticus Steenstrup, 1861
Gelatinous giant octopod
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Family:  Alloposidae (gelatinous giant octopods)
Max. size:  10 cm ML (male/unsexed); 69 cm ML (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 6787 m
Distribution:  Circumglobal in tropical and subtropical waters.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Occurs in mesopelagic and bathypelagic in open waters but often associated with continental slopes (Ref. 114825). Depth range in open-ocean from surface to at least 1,260 m, over depths of up to 6,787 m. Collected in bottom trawls on continental shelves and slopes at depths of 100 to 3,173 m. Possibly not entirely pelagic, but might pass relatively short periods of its life cycle in open waters, soon returning to a life at the bottom especially on continental slopes. Females brood their eggs attached to the oral side of the arm bases near the mouth. Likely an intermittent spawner. The deep umbrella formed by the arms and webs of the female possibly serves as the main organ of locomotion/swimming. When mature, and before autotomized, the hectocotylus of males protrudes from the pouch opening on the inner surface of web between the second and fourth pairs of arms. Feeds on crustaceans and cephalopods (Ref. 96968).
IUCN Red List Status: (LC); Date assessed: 20 August 2014 Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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