Family Spirulidae - ram's horn squid

  Order
:
  Class
:
Cephalopoda
  No. of Genera in Ref.
:
  No. of Species in Ref.
:
  Environment
:
Fresh : No | Brackish : No | Marine : Yes
  Aquarium
:
  First Fossil Record
:
     
  Remark
:
Author: Ref. 346. A single species in the family, Spirula spirula. A small, muscular species. Internal chambered shell spirally coiled, located in posterior end of mantle. Small round fins separate, terminal, nearly transverse to body axis. Large photophore located be tween fins. Funnel-mantle locking cartilage a simple, straight groove and ridge. Eyes large, without cornea but with muscular eyelids. Arm lengths in crease from dorsal to ventral, each arm with 4 to 6 longitudinal series of small suckers. Both ventral arms hectocotylized in males. Tentacular clubs with subequal suckers in 16 series, not divided into manus and dactylus. Colour: dark reddish brown. Skin smooth but mantle under skin covered with regularly aligned collagen fibrils that produce a silvery sheen. No direct interest to fishery exists. Stranded shells sold in shell trade (Ref. 104052).
  Etymology
:
  Division
:
  Reproductive guild
:
  Typical activity level
:
  Main Ref.
:
  Coordinator
:

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       
Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]