Berryteuthis contains two species of very different sizes. B. magister which reaches a length of nearly 40 cm ML while most adult B. anonychus are near 10 cm ML.

Brief diagnosis:

A gonatid ...

• without hooks on tentacular club.
• with locking-apparatus on club a series of knobs and suckers along dorsal margin of manus.

1. Arms
1. Armature of the arms differs greatly between species.
   
   
2. Tentacles
1. Tentacles present.
2. Tentacular clubs without hooks.
3. Suckers of tentacular club in numerous irregular series; suckers about equal in size.
4. Proximal locking-apparatus of club a series of knobs and suckers along dorsal margin of manus.
   

   Figure. Oral view of tentacular club of B. anonychus. Red dots along the dorsal margin of the manus and stalk are knobs of the proximal locking-apparatus. Drawing modified from Pearcy and Voss (1963).

3. Head
1. Radula with teeth in 7 series.
   

   Figure. View of the radula of B. anonychus. Drawing modified from Pearcy and Voss (1963).

4. Mantle
1. Mantle tissue muscular.
   
   
5. Fins
1. Fins rhomboid in shape; not drawn out into a tail.
   
   
6. Photophores
1. Photophores absent.

Comments

The following table compares characteristics of subadult species of Berryteuthis.

Species / Character	Maximum size	Arm hooks
B. anonychus	70 - 150 mm ML	Females only, few, small, at arm bases
B. magister	180 - 380 mm ML	Both sexes, many, large, along arms

Depth range based on 162 specimens in 4 taxa.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 26 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 4 - 854.5
  Temperature range (°C): 3.540 - 7.611
  Nitrate (umol/L): 20.867 - 43.819
  Salinity (PPS): 32.630 - 34.320
  Oxygen (ml/l): 0.428 - 5.868
  Phosphate (umol/l): 1.621 - 3.427
  Silicate (umol/l): 25.591 - 124.193

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 4 - 854.5

Temperature range (°C): 3.540 - 7.611

Nitrate (umol/L): 20.867 - 43.819

Salinity (PPS): 32.630 - 34.320

Oxygen (ml/l): 0.428 - 5.868

Phosphate (umol/l): 1.621 - 3.427

Silicate (umol/l): 25.591 - 124.193
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                        

Specimen Records:	6	Public Records:	6
Specimens with Sequences:	6	Public Species:	2
Specimens with Barcodes:	6	Public BINs:	3
Species:	2
Species With Barcodes:	2

Access Published & Released Data: Download FASTA File