Benthoctopus cf. profundorum Robson, 1932

Strugnell, Jan, Voight, Janet R., Collins, Patrick C. & Allcock, A. Louise, 2009, Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a known and a new hydrothermal vent octopod: their relationships with the genus Benthoctopus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), Zootaxa 2096 (1), pp. 442-459 : 448

Benthoctopus cf. profundorum Robson, 1932

Material examined: Benthoctopus cf. profundorum : * FMNH 307179 , RV Atlantis HOV Alvin , 11°25'N 103°47'W ( East Pacific Rise ), Dive 3934, 15 November 2003, 2492 m, female, leg. & det. JR Voight.

Diagnosis. Arms 3–4 times ML. Arm formula 1>2>3=4. Funnel organ W-shaped. Gills 6 lamellae per demibranch. Male characters unknown. Integument smooth.

Remarks. This species shows some affinity with B. profundorum as described by Robson in his 1932 monograph. It has a similar W-shaped funnel organ, the same number of gill lamellae per demibranch (6–7 for the type of profundorum ) and similarly sized suckers ( SDI 5.9 reported for the type of profundorum versus 5.8 in our specimen). The arms appear to be very slightly shorter (83% of the total length in B. profundorum versus 78% in our specimen) and the web is slightly shallower ( WDI 22.6% versus 34% in profundorum ). Despite the similarities, we hesitate to place our specimen firmly in profundorum given the very great distance between the catch location and the type locality (34°37'N 140°32'E) of profundorum . Although other specimens have previously been attributed to profundorum , these need to be treated with caution. It is doubtful that any specimens other than the type can be referred to this species ( Voss & Pearcy 1990).