H. reversa is one of the most common species of histioteuthids in the North Atlantic. Its range extends into the eastern South Atlantic. The length of the gladius in the largest recorded female is 183 mm (Voss, 1969). Like many histioteuthids, major morphological changes occur at sexual maturity. In this species the females become much more elongate and develop an additional array of photophores.

H. elongata (Voss and Voss, 1962), described from a mature female, is a junior synonym (Voss, et al., 1998).

1. Head
   
   1. Beaks: Descriptions can be found here: Lower beak; upper beak.
      
      
2. Photophores
   1. Large, compound photophores with posteriorly directed reflectors.
      

      Figure. Anteroventral mantle photophores of H. reversa, 29 mm ML, central North Atlantic, R/V G.O. SARS, MarEco cruise. Arrow points to the posterior reflector of one of the photophores. Photograph by R. Young.

   2. Arms IV with 4 longitudinal series of photophores on arm base (3 series of large photophores, dorsal series of small photophores
      

      Figure. Ventral view of the base of arm IV of H. reversa, 29 mm ML, central North Atlantic, R/V G.O. SARS, MarEco cruise. Arrows point to the dorsal series of small photophores. Photograph by R. Young.

   3. Terminal group of large photophores on arms absent.

Comments

More details of the description can be found here.

Species of the reversa-group are distinguished by the following characters:

1. Compound photophores
   1. Large and small photophores intermixed on ventral surface of mantle .
   2. 18 photophores (17 large and 1 small) around right eyelid.
2. Beak
   1. Weakly developed median ridge on each lateral wall.
3. Tubercles
   1. Absent.

H. reversa is most easily separated from other members of the reversa group by (1) the arrangement of photophores on arms IV (H. atlantica - 4 series, dorsal series of mixed sizes; H reversa - 4 series, dorsal series of small sizes; H. eltaninae - 3 series) and (2) from H. atlantica by the absence of simple, arm-tip photophores and from H. eltaninae by the short connective complex in their spermatophores and the presence of posterior reflectors (not described for H. eltaninae) on compound photophores.

The above information is from Voss (1969) and Voss, et al. (1998).

Atlantic, Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, South West Indian Ocean, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone

Geographical distribution

H. reversa occurs throughout much of the Atlantic Ocean but is absent from the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the South Subtropical Region. Voss, et al. (1998) suggest that the abundance of H. reversa near slopes and submarine topography is related to a preference for high productivity waters.

Holotype for Stigmatoteuthis verrilli Pfeffer, 1912
Catalog Number: USNM 729738
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: ; larvae
Preparation: Alcohol (Ethanol)
Year Collected: 1883
Locality: Martha's Vineyard, East, Massachusetts, United States, North Atlantic Ocean
Depth (m): 1657 to 1657
Vessel: Albatross R/V

Holotype for Calliteuthis reversa Verrill, 1880
Catalog Number: USNM 574849
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: female;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Year Collected: 1880
Locality: 200 Miles Off Coast, New Jersey, United States, North Atlantic Ocean
Depth (m): 668 to 668
Vessel: Fish Hawk R/V

Paratype for Calliteuthis elongata Voss & Voss, 1962
Catalog Number: USNM 78083
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: female;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Year Collected: 1886
Locality: Long Island, New York, United States, North Atlantic Ocean
Vessel: Albatross R/V

epi-mesopelagic

Depth range based on 114 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 102 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 4.5 - 4332
  Temperature range (°C): 2.336 - 17.269
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.302 - 36.323
  Salinity (PPS): 34.017 - 38.954
  Oxygen (ml/l): 1.302 - 6.259
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.115 - 2.537
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.352 - 36.772

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 4.5 - 4332

Temperature range (°C): 2.336 - 17.269

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.302 - 36.323

Salinity (PPS): 34.017 - 38.954

Oxygen (ml/l): 1.302 - 6.259

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.115 - 2.537

Silicate (umol/l): 1.352 - 36.772
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

This series of drawings shows the remarkable elongation in shape of the female at maturity and the maturity-related increase in numbers of simple photophores (dark spots) on the mantle (Voss, et al., 1998)

The drawings below show the abundance of simple, dark photophores on the head of mature males. To the left is a ventral view, 89 mm ML and to the right is a dorsal view, 107 mm GL (Voss, et al., 1998). These dark photophores are apparent in photographs of a mature male.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 2 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 2
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1