H. bonnellii is the type species of the genus. It reaches a rather large size (33 cm ML, 119 cm total length) for a histioteuthid. Its uneven distribution and variation in characters normally considered stable within species suggests that a number of separate populations exist.

Brief diagnosis

A Histioteuthis ...

• with three series of photophores on arms III.
• with three large, dark, round photophores on the ventrolateral corner of the head.

Clarke (1980) described a subspecies, H. b. corpuscula, from whale stomach taken in the South Atlantic (type locality - 30°S,31°E). Voss et al., 1998, in an extensive study of the species, found that the characters Clarke used to separate the subspecies were insufficient. They suggest, however, that different populations of the species may exist based on differences in spermatophore structure. If this proves correct, they suggest that the Atlantic subtropical form could be identified to H. b. corpuscula.

1. Buccal crown
   1. Buccal crown with 6 buccal supports.
      
      
2. Head
   
   1. Beaks: Descriptions can be found here: Lower beak; upper beak.
      
      
3. Photophores
   1. Compound photophores number 17 (rarely 16 or 18) around right eye.
   2. 3 large, round, dark photophores on left posterior margin of ventral surface of head (see drawing to the right).
      
      

      Figure. Ventral view of left-ventral region of head of H. bonnellii. Left - 42 mm ML, female, 43°N, 61°W. Drawing from Voss, et al. (1998). Arrows point to the three large photophores. Right - The three large photophores are clearly seen and show a blue-green color in this living squid. The white box is enlarged in the adjacent insert. The white arrow points to one of the small, "simple" photophores found near the large eye but it does not appear to be simple. The black arrows point to the remnants of the anterior reflector and color filiter (red) of two of the large photophores. The remnants could not be seen on the third large photophore which is not in the insert. Note the two normal photophores to the left and an intermediate photophore beween the uppper black and the white arrows; photographed in a shipboard aquarium by David Shale.
      

Comments

More details of the description can be found here.

Species of the bonnellii-group are distinguished by the following characteristics:

1. Photophores
   1. Single, elongate, simple photophore at end of each arm I-III.
   2. Type 1b head photophore pattern (needs confirmation from H. macrohista).
   3. Two or three large, round photophores on left posteroventral margin of head.
   4. Compound photophores of large, uniform size on anterior half of ventral mantle.
   5. Arms IV with 3 longitudinal series on arm base and without separated group of compound photophores at arm tips.
2. Web
   1. Deep inner web between arms I-III (>50% of length of longest arm; no other species have webs > 30%).
3. Buccal membrane attachments
   1. Multiple attachments of the fourth (ventral) supports of the buccal crown (i.e., 1 each to sides of arms IV and to junctures of web segments from arms III and IV).
4. Tubercles
   1. Absent

This species is most easily separated from its close relative, H. macrohista by the presence of 6, rather than 7, supports in the buccal crown, 17 rather than 16 photophores on the right eyelid (numbers rarely overlap) and the presence of 3 rather than 2 conspicuous, dark, round photophores on the posteroventral margin of the head on the left side. An additional difference is the manner that the inner webs between the third arms join those of the ventral arms. In H. bonnellii the two junctions nearly form a common junction, while in H. macrohista they are widely separated. Voss, et al. (1998) also show differences in sperm mass length and number of loops in the ejaculatory apparatus of the spermatophores, in the number of gill lamellae as well as the usual presence of an elongate, simple but relatively small photophore on the tips of arms IV.

The above description, comparisons and comments, with the exception of the head photophore pattern, is taken from Voss, et al., 1998.

We list the head photophore pattern for the bonnellii-group as Type 1b. We have only examined H. bonnellii, however, drawings in Voss (1969) suggest that H. macrohista also has this pattern.

Atlantic, European waters (ERMS scope), Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Gulf of Mexico, Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone, New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, North West Atlantic, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, South West Indian Ocean, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone

off Newfoundland and New York to Western Europe

Geographical distribution

Type locality: Mediterranean Sea, off Nice.

H. bonnellii is widely but unevenly distributed in the Atlantic. It is absent from northern subropical and western tropical waters and probably other areas. It is found in a narrow band of subtropical waters that includes areas off Argentina, South Africa and the region between Australia and New Zealand (Voss et al., 1998). Voss et al. (1998) suggest that the species is absent from oligotrophic waters of the world's oceans and that three populations of this species may exist in the Atlantic ocean (i.e., Southwest Atlantic, Eastern Tropical Atlantic, Northwest Atlantic) based on differences in the structure of the spermatophores.

Figure. Distribution chart of H. bonnellii, modified from Voss, et al., 1998.

Holotype for Histioteuthis collinsii Verrill, 1879
Catalog Number: USNM 730893
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): J. Collins
Year Collected: 1879
Locality: Halifax, South, Nova Scotia, Canada, North Atlantic Ocean

Known from seamounts and knolls

epi-mesopelagic

Depth range based on 43 specimens in 2 taxa.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 42 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 98 - 2320.5
  Temperature range (°C): 3.048 - 16.614
  Nitrate (umol/L): 3.633 - 36.323
  Salinity (PPS): 34.350 - 38.431
  Oxygen (ml/l): 1.558 - 6.184
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.274 - 2.442
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.943 - 38.594

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 98 - 2320.5

Temperature range (°C): 3.048 - 16.614

Nitrate (umol/L): 3.633 - 36.323

Salinity (PPS): 34.350 - 38.431

Oxygen (ml/l): 1.558 - 6.184

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.274 - 2.442

Silicate (umol/l): 1.943 - 38.594
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Largest mature female known is 33 cm ML from subarctic waters and carried mature eggs of 2.3 mm diameter (Kristensen, 1980). Females may mature at 70 mm ML in tropical waters. Mature males are known from 50-330 mm ML depending somewhat on latitude (Voss, et al., 1998).

Figure. Dorsal view of a young (8.7 mm ML) H. bonnellii, 37° 58'N, 27° 39' W. Drawing from Voss, 1969 (Fig. 35c).

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


There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank.   Below is the 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.  Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.


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