Much of the higher classification of Recent cephalopods is unstable. Various authors have suggested highly varying arrangements. We adopt a conservative arrangement that does not differ much from that of Naef (1921-23). Except for the position of the Octopodiformes and its two orders, we have a questionable phylogenetic basis for accepting this or any other scheme. We suggest, however, for the sake of stability, that the following classification be used until this or an alternative arrangement can be derived from cladistic analyses. The analyses, whether molecular or morphological, however, must be robust and must survive considerable scrutiny before changes in classification should be adopted.

• Class: Cephalopoda Cuvier, 1797
  • Subclass: Nautiloidea Agassiz, 1847
    • • • • • • Fam: Nautilidae Blainville, 1825
  • Subclass: Coleoidea Bather, 1888
    • Division: Neocoleoidea Haas, 1997
      • Superorder: Octopodiformes Berthold and Engeser, 1987
        • Order: Vampyromorpha Robson, 1929
          • • • Fam: Vampyroteuthidae Thiele, in Chun, 1915
        • Order: Octopoda Leach, 1818
          • Suborder: Cirrata Grimpe, 1916
            • • Fam: Cirroteuthidae Keferstein, 1866
              • Fam: Stauroteuthidae Grimpe, 1916
              • Fam: Opisthoteuthidae Verrill, 1896
          • Suborder: Incirrata Grimpe, 1916
            • • Fam: Amphitretidae Hoyle, 1886
              • Fam: Bolitaenidae Chun, 1911
              • Fam: Octopodidae Orbigny, 1839 In: Ferussac and Orbigny, 1834-1848
              • Fam: Vitreledonellidae Robson, 1932
                
                
  • • • • • • Superfamily: Argonautoidea Naef, 1912
              • Fam: Alloposidae Verrill, 1881
              • Fam: Argonautidae Cantraine, 1841
              • Fam: Ocythoidae Gray, 1849
              • Fam: Tremoctopodidae Tryon, 1879

• • • • Superorder: Decapodiformes Leach, 1817
      • Interactive KEY to families of the Decapodiformes
        • Order: Oegopsida Orbigny, 1845
          • • • Fam: Architeuthidae Pfeffer, 1900
              • Fam: Brachioteuthidae Pfeffer, 1908
            • Chiroteuthid families
              • Fam: Batoteuthidae Young and Roper, 1968
              • Fam: Chiroteuthidae Gray, 1849
              • Fam: Joubiniteuthidae Naef, 1922
              • Fam: Magnapinnidae Vecchione and Young, 1998
              • Fam: Mastigoteuthidae Verrill, 1881
              • Fam: Promachoteuthidae Naef, 1912
                
                
              • Fam: Cranchiidae Prosch, 1847
              • Fam: Cycloteuthidae Naef, 1923
                
                
            • Enoploteuthidae families
              • Fam: Ancistrocheiridae Pfeffer, 1912
              • Fam: Enoploteuthidae Pfeffer, 1900
              • Fam: Lycoteuthidae Pfeffer, 1908
              • Fam: Pyroteuthidae Pfeffer, 1912
                
                
              • Fam: Gonatidae Hoyle 1886
                
                
            • Histioteuthid families
              • Fam: Histioteuthidae Verrill, 1881
              • Fam: Psychroteuthidae Thiele, 1920
            • Lepidoteuthid families
              • Fam: Lepidoteuthidae Naef, 1912
              • Fam: Octopoteuthidae Berry, 1912
              • Fam: Pholidoteuthidae Voss, 1956
                
                
              • Fam: Neoteuthidae Naef, 1921
              • Fam: Ommastrephidae Steenstrup, 1857
              • Fam: Onychoteuthidae Gray, 1847
              • Fam: Thysanoteuthidae Keferstein, 1866
                
                
        • Order: Myopsida Naef, 1916
          • • • Fam: Australiteuthidae Lu, 2005
              • Fam: Loliginidae Lesueur, 1821
                
                
        • Order: Sepioidea Naef, 1916
          • • Suborder: Sepiida Keferstein, 1866
              • Fam: Sepiidae Keferstein, 1866
            • Suborder: Sepiolida Naef, 1916
              • Fam: Sepiadariidae Fischer, 1882
              • Fam: Sepiolidae Leach, 1817
                
                
        • Order: Spirulida Haeckel, 1896
          • • • Fam: Spirulidae Owen, 1836
                
                
        • Order uncertain
        • • • Superfamily: Bathyteuthoidea nov.
              • Fam: Bathyteuthidae Pfeffer, 1900
              • Fam: Chtenopterygidae Grimpe, 1922
                
                
              • Fam: Idiosepiidae Fischer, 1882