Leachia cf. atlantica (Degner, 1925)

Bolstad, K. S. R., Perez, J. A. A., Strugnell, J. M. & Vidal, E. A. G., 2014, Cranchiids of the South Atlantic Mid-Oceanic Ridge: results from the first southern MAR-ECO expedition, Journal of Natural History 49 (21), pp. 1351-1371 : 1358

Two specimens of Leachia cf. atlantica

(ML 14.6, 28.8 mm) were collected. The clubs ( Figure 4A ) bore ~14 rows of (generally) four suckers, preceded proximally by two rows of two suckers each, forming a carpal region. The next eight or nine rows comprised the manus, and the final seven comprised the dactylus. The medial manus suckers were greatly enlarged relative to the marginals, and bore two or three proximal rows of pegs, with the innermost largest and ovoid- to polygonal-faced, and two or three distal rows of smaller, approximately circular-faced pegs. The infundibular ring of each medial sucker was produced beyond the oral peg-bearing surface of the sucker, and bore low, slender teeth (about 20 in total) around its entire perimeter. The marginal and dactylic suckers were similar to each other, in having two rows of large, ovoid-faced pegs proximally (with those of the inner row larger); approximately three rows of densely set, circular-faced pegs distally; and the inner margin of the sucker ring often produced beyond the oral peg-bearing surface of the sucker, but generally smooth (without teeth).

Figures

Figure 4. Tentacle clubs of cranchiin and taoniin species. (A) Leachia cf. atlantica, ME 38942, mantle length (ML) 28.8 mm. (B) Bathothauma cf. lyromma sucker, ME 38494, ML 10.0 mm. (C, D) Galiteuthis armata: (C) ME 38550, ML 16.0 mm; (D) ME 38534, Ml 37.1 mm. Scale bars = (A, C, D) 1 mm, (B) 20 µm.