|
Family Cranchiidae - cranch squids
|
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 |
: |
From small (Helicocranchia has a maximum mantle length of 100 mm) to very large squids (Mesonychoteuthis maximum mantle length is well over 200 cm). In general appearance they often appear to have bloated bodies and short arms. The mantle is generally thin but muscular. Head fused to mantle at funnel and nuchal locking apparatuses. With coelom (internal cavity) modified into a large buoyancy chamber. Armature of suckers or hooks in 2 series. Buccal connectives attach to ventral borders of arms IV. Digestive gland generally spindle-shaped and situated well posterior to cephalic cartilage. Most paralarvae with eyes on stalks. Cranch squids occur from the surface to approximately 2 000 m. Most species occupy progressively deeper waters as they grow larger (ontogenetic descent). Not of interest to fisheries (Ref. 104052). |
||
Etymology |
: |
|||
Division |
: |
|||
Reproductive guild |
: |
|||
Typical activity level |
: |
|||
Main Ref. |
: |
|||
Coordinator |
: |
|||