Introduction

We follow Roeleveld (1988) in considering this subfamily to be united by the modifications of the hectocotylus. The genus Todaropsis has been considered by some authors to belong in the subfamily Illicinae, in spite of a club dactylus with suckers in only four series, because of the lack of foveola in the funnel grove.

Brief diagnosis:

an ommastrephid ...

• without photophores.
• without carpal locking apparatus on tentacular club.
  
• with foveola (except Todaropsis) but without side pockets.
  
• with thickened trabeculae on distal ventral protective membrane of hectocotylus.