Introduction

This is a large, moderately muscled squid that reaches a ML of 78 cm., and is thought to be very abundant in the upper Gulf of Mexico (Voss, 1956) and common off the east coast of the United States to New England (MV, pers. observations). One squid was seen from a submersible hovering just above the bottom on the continental slope off North Carolina (east coast, U.S.A.) (see Distribution).

Figure. Dorsolateral view of P. adami, 230 mm ML, captured off the east coast, U.S.A. Photograph by Mike Sweeney.