Argonauta sp.

Roper, Clyde F. E., Gutierrez, A. & Vecchione, M., 2013, Paralarval octopods of the Florida Current, Journal of Natural History 49 (21 - 24), pp. 1281-1304 : 1289

Argonauta sp.

The species name cannot be determined, as the specimens do not have the fully developed number of suckers on the arms, e.g. 12–13 in Argonauta argo or 10–11 in Argonauta hians (Norman et al. forthcoming). Argonauta sp. ( Figure 7 ) is represented by three specimens from 1.5 to 3.9 mm ML. All specimens are males that have hectocotylization of the left arm III developed in a pouch beneath the left eye. The arms have 9 to 10 suckers in two series; 8 to 10 chromatophores occur in two series on the arms, both dorsal and ventral. The dorsal and ventral surfaces of the mantle and head are completely and uniformly covered with chromatophores.

Figures

Figure 7. Argonauta sp. paralarval chromatophore patterns and arm sucker development. (A) Chromatophores on dorsal surface of mantle, head and arm pairs I and II; (B) chromatophores on ventral surfaces of mantle, funnel, head and arm pairs IV, III, left II (note left arm III, the hectocotylus, devoid of suckers, is shown developing in its pouch anteroventral to the left eye); (C) oral view of sucker development on arm pairs I, II, right III and IV (note left arm III hectocotylus in pouch). (Size range examined 1.5–3.9 mm mantle length.)