H. eltaninae has a circumglobal distribution in subantarctic waters where it is the most common histioteuthid taken. The largest male known is 105 mm ML and the largest female, 98 mm ML.

“Histioteuthis eltaninae, n. sp.
Figs. 3, d-e; 5, c; 7, d; 12; 13; 14, i-m

 

 

Material Examined.—HOLOTYPE: 1 ♀, ML 53.3 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1723, 40º05’S, 149º55'W, 18 July 1966, ca. 880 meters, 3-m IKMT, USNM 576164.

 

PARATYPES: 1 ♂, ML 66.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 354-20, 55°25'S, 58º51’W, 5 Dec. 1962, 1812-2145 meters, UMML.-1 ♂, ML 57.3 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 325-20, 56°06'S, 71°14'W, 7 Nov. 1962, 983 meters, USNM 576170.-1 ♂, ML 45.2 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1270, 57°31'S, 125º16’W, 1 Sept. 1964, 851-933 meters, USNM 576171.-1 ♀, ML 45.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 235-20, 59°06'S, 67°59'W, 2 Oct. 1962, 1830 meters, USNM 576172.-1 ♂, ML 39.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1107-13-4, 58°00'S, 90º36’W, 24 May 1964, 714-851 meters, USNM 576173.-1 ♂, ML 35.5mm, ELTANIN Sta. 110-15, 56°59'S, 62°16'W, 19 July 1962, approx. 2890 meters, USNM 576174.-1 ♂, ML 34.4 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1100-13-3, 57º07’S, 88º44’W, 22 May 1964, 183 meters, UMML.-1 ♂, ML 29.9 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1201, 56°14'S, 160°05'W, 8 Aug. 1964, 1120 meters, USNM 576175.

 

OTHER MATERIAL: 1 ♀, ML 52.4 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1306, 61°01'S, 100º19’W, 20 Oct. 1964, 1208-1373 meters.-1 ♀, ML 51.1 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1302, 58°57'S, 99°30'W, 16 Oct. 1964, 769-1336 meters. -1 ♀, ML 47.3 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 792-20, 64°10' S, 82°49'W, 25 Oct. 1964, 1501-1720 meters.-1 ♀, ML 45.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1307, 60º58’S, 100º46’W, 20 Oct. 1964, 1208-1373 meters.-1 ♀, ML 40.3 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 99, 51°43'S, 77'36W, 12 July 1962, 1208-1219 meters.-1 ♀, ML 37.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1480, 47°14'S, 132°28'W, 4-5 Aug. 1965, 329 meters, 3-m IKMT.-4 ♀ ♀, 5 ♂ ♂, ML 30.9-15.2 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1686, 57º39’S, 115º12’W, 6 May 1966, 600-750 meters, 3-m IKMT.-1 ♂, ML 28.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1474, 59º00’S, 110º03’W, 25-26 July 1965, 439 meters, 1-m IKMT.-3 ♀ ♀, 4 ♂ ♂, ML 27.7-18.5 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1684, 59º07’S, 114º59’W, 5 May 1966, 300-425 meters, 3-m IKMT.-1 ♀, 2 sex ?, ML 26.9 to approx. 14 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1687, 57º39’S, 115º26’W, 6 May 1966, 400-1210 meters, 3-m IKMT.- 1 ♀, ML 22.9 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1704, 43º50’S, 174º27’W, 22 May 1966, 725-800 meters, 3-m IKMT.- 1 ♂, ML 21.6 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1473, 58º54’S, 110º04’W, 25 July 1965, 366 meters, 3-m IKMT.- 1 ♂, ML 20.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 1692, 49º00’S, 161º57’W, 17 May 1966, 0-2300 meters, 3-m IKMT.- 1 spec., ML 9.0 mm, ELTANIN Sta. 360-20, 56º29’S, 58º25’W, 7 Dec. 1962, 1603-1885 meters.

 

 

Description.-Mantle conical, moderately elongate, usually widest at flared-out anterior margin, walls moderately thick. Middorsal anterior margin produced into low obtuse angle; midventral anterior margin slightly excavated between lateral angles.

 

Fins with free posterior margins extending beyond posterior tip of mantle. Fin width approximately three-quarters to one-half mantle length; length approximately one-third to one-half mantle length.

 

Funnel with typical double dorsal supports. Mantle locking apparatus with long slightly crescent-shaped mantle cartilage fitting into deep central groove of oval funnel cartilage. Dorsal pad of funnel organ sculptured with independent median ridge descending each arm and merging into swollen posterior tip; two ventral pads kidney-shaped. Large semicircular valve present.

 

Head typically large, wider than mantle, with asymmetrically enlarged left eye. One nuchal fold apparent on either side of head dorsal to small olfactory organ.

 

Buccal membrane seven-membered with support attachments as follows: middorsal or first bifurcate to dorsal sides of arms I, second supports to dorsal sides of II, third supports to ventral sides of III, and fourth supports to dorsal sides if IV. Inner web low to vestigial; outer web not conspicuously developed.

 

Arms stout basally, tapering to delicate tips, approximately one to one and one-quarter the length of mantle. Condition of available material inadequate for description of keels. Arms II and III about coequal in length, longer than coequal arms I and IV. Fleshy protective membranes present, more developed on ventral margins.

 

Suckers on third quarter of arm slightly larger than on remainder; those on IV considerably reduced in size. Rings with low triangular teeth varying from as few as 7-9 confined to the distal margin (holotype) to about 20 teeth around entire margin.

 

Hectocotylization not noted on mature male paratype.

 

Tentacles long, to more than twice the mantle length, terminating in expanded club. Swimming keel present on aboral surface of narrow dactylus portion, longitudinal cleft not apparent on manus. Left tentacle of holotype with following carpal arrangement from distalmost point from club: 1 p, 2 ss, 2 pp, , 2 ss, 2 pp, in single almost median alignment; then, proximal to club, crossing diagonally to the dorsal margin, 2 ss, 2 pp, then 1 s, 1 p, 1 s, 1 p, and at base of manus an enlarged carpal sucker, followed by 1 p, 1 s, 1 p, 1 s, along proximal dorsal margin of manus. Above arrangement more or less typical for species, occasional carpal element may be lacking.

 

Suckers on manus in five to six rows; third through sixth sucker of median row enlarged three to four times size of other suckers. Largest sucker of holotype with about 52 low, blunt, triangular teeth around entire margin (number varied from about 36-54 in paratype). Suckers on dactylus small, uniformly decreasing in size. Well-developed protective membrane present on each margin of manus, decreasing on dactylus.

 

Intermixed large and small photophores on entire ventral surface of mantle. Large organs on approximately six to seven diagonal rows. Photophores on ventral surface of head in diagonal rows, except for complete circlet of 17 large and one small photophore around right margin of eyelid, and 10 to 12 small photophores in complete circlet around lateral and posterior margins of left eyelid in addition to arc of large organs over anterior margin. Photophores on dorsal surface of mantle and head reduced in size and number. Arms IV with three rows of large photophores basally, no dorsal marginal row of small organs. Dorsalmost row of large photophores with but two to three organs; median row extending to tip, with ventralmost row terminating just short of tip. Base of arms I, II, and III with three longitudinal rows of photophores of decreasing size ventral to dorsal.

 

Except for point of rostrum, lower beak of 27.3-mm-ML ♂ paratype only very lightly pigmented and chitinized. Lateral wall without median ridge.

 

Male genitalia single, on left side. Mature spermatophores (present only in 66.0-mm-ML ♂ paratype) 4.52 to 4.76 mm long (SpLI 0.069-0.072), slender with long cement body (CBI 68.0-67.3). Ejaculatory apparatus occupying oral quarter of spermatophore, with single loop; aboral portion at juncture with cement body swollen but without connective complex. Terminal sperm mass short (SMI 4.2-3.54).

 

Gladius from above paratype delicate, very lightly pigmented. Vane long (GVLI 75.6; GVWI 22.6); anterior shoulders long and tapering.

 

Type.—United States National Museum, USNM 576164.

 

 

TABLE 3.

 

MANTLE MEASUREMENTS (IN MM) AND INDICES OF Histioteuthis eltaninae, n. sp.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

			*   Elt 354   ♂	*   Elt   325   ♂	Holo-type   Elt 1723   ♀	Elt   1306   ♀	Elt   1302   ♀	*   Elt   1270   ♂	Elt   1307   ♀	*   Elt   235   ♀	*   Elt   1107   ♂	*   Elt   110   ♂	*   Elt   1100   ♂	*   Elt   1201   ♂	Elt   1686   ♀	Elt   1684   ♂	Elt   1684   ♀	Elt   360   --
ML			66.0	57.3	53.3	52.4	51.1	45.2	45.0	45.0	39.0	35.5	34.4	29.9	27.7	23.8	18.5	9.0
MLI			36.3	38.7	--	41.4	36.5	41.5	41.0	--	42.2	35.3	36.8	38.8	--	--	--	39.8
MWI			39.4	40.8	60.0	41.4	45.9	42.0	42.0	38.2	48.5	53.5	55.2	54.2	62.0	56.7	59.4	50.0
HLI			36.4	35.3	46.2	40.3	42.6	40.7	40.6	42.2	37.9	49.8	43.6	46.8	52.7	40.0	43.3	--
HWI			44.6	--	60.4	54.9	48.9	57.0	48.2	44.0	49.2	--	60.5	69.9	67.5	55.5	--	52.2
FLI			31.8	28.8	--	32.9	34.2	37.2	--	34.9	--	--	44.2	36.8	--	50.4	--	53.4
FWI			54.5	48.4	--	147.9	49.7	54.6	58.2	56.9	--	56.4	72.4	62.2	--	73.0	77.9	76.7
AI		I	109.0	112.2	107.0	91.7	99.8	85.9	84.5	--	91.5	100.4	100.6	91.0	103.7	--	--	--
	II		126.0	127.1	122.0	99.4	125.2	96.5	100.0	--	104.0	117.0	119.3	113.4	123.0	--	--	84.5
	III		118.2	126.0	121.6	107.3	122.0	97.1	96.2	--	--	122.0	--	105.3	123.0	106.0	--	82.3
	IV		95.4	105.0	114.0	90.0	101.0	81.8	86.5	--	90.0	95.8	99.8	101.8	105.4	86.5	76.2	70.0
TLI			202.2	132.0	299.0	164.8	246.4	192.5	228.5	147.0	--	192.0	194.0	--	201.2	--	125.4	--
CLI			30.3	31.1	30.4	28.8	32.4	28.8	28.9	28.9	--	28.1	34.2	--	30.0	--	21.6	--
M+I			9.1	--	--	7.3	5.5	6.6	8.9	11.0	--	10.1	14.6	10.0	--	16.8	--	24.4

 

* Paratypes.

 

 

Type-Locality.—Antarctic Ocean, east of Drake Passage, 55º25’S, 58º51’W, 1812-2145 meters.

 

 

Discussion.—This species is very close to H. reversa (Verrill) and, in fact, during the early study of the material it was considered to be perhaps a subspecies of reversa. However, when mature spermatophores became available, they differed structurally so completely from those of reversa that no doubt remained that this group of specimens represented a distinct and separate species.

 

In addition to the distinctive spermatophores, the two species can be readily distinguished by the pattern of photophores on the fourth arms. In reversa, there are four longitudinal rows—three rows of large photophores and a dorsal marginal row of small photophores; in eltaninae, there are but three rows, all containing large photophores, with the dorsalmost row containing but two or three organs. Even when the marginal row of small photophores has been destroyed in reversa, which is often the case, the two are distinguishable by the fact that reversa has five to eight organs in the dorsalmost row of large photophores, rather than the two or three in eltaninae. H. eltaninae can be distinguished from the remaining members of the family by the above characters together with the occurrence of photophores of intermixed sizes on the ventral surface of the mantle, the lack of development of the inner web, and the lack of enlarged terminal photophores on arms-I-III.

 

Increased size of the individual is accompanied by a proportionally narrower mantle and smaller fins.

 

 

Remarks.—This species as named for the research vessel USNS ELTANIN. Present work aboard this vessel in the Antarctic and subantarctic is greatly contributing to our knowledge of this area.

 

A color note on living specimens of eltaninae was made in the unpublished “Report on USNS ELTANIN Cruise 23” submitted by E. S. McSweeny, Jr., graduate student of the Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences following his participation in that cruise; “These are striking creatures with blue and reddish-purple photophores studding the mantle, head and arms.”

 

 

Distribution.—To date, specimens of H. eltaninae have been taken only in the subantarctic regions of the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans from about 58º-175ºW and 43º-65ºS, all from north of the Antarctic Convergence. This species is the commonest histioteuthid in the collections from these waters. This distributional pattern is an obvious reflection of the restricted collecting in these southern oceans; eltaninae will probably be found throughout much of the remainder of the subantarctic region and will be most abundant in proximity to land or oceanic ridges. An interesting reference in this regard was made by McSweeny (op. cit.): “Most noticeable was the appearance of histioteuthid squid (H. eltaninae predominated in the hauls referred to) in the samples approaching the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. There was a marked concentration of these squids in this region while only occasional specimens were taken from further west.”

 

This species was noticeably absent in the collections of ELTANIN Cruise 26 in the Tasman Sea. Possibly the higher temperature at the preferred depths in this area is the restricting factor.

 

Specimens were collected by nets fishing to maximum depths of 92 to 2890 meters. Analysis of data showed the greatest concentration of this species to be between about 300-2000 meters.”

 

 

(Voss, 1969: 755-763)

1. Photophores
   1. Large, compound photophores without (?) posteriorly directed reflectors.
   2. Arms IV with 3 longitudinal series on arm base.
   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 (see white arrows in photograph above) photophores intermixed on ventral surface of mantle .
   2. 18 photophores (1 large and 1 small) around right eyelid.
2. Beak
   1. Weakly developed median ridge on each lateral wall.
3. Tubercles
   1. Absent.

H. eltaninae is most easily separated from other members of the reversa group by (1) the arrangements of photophores on arms IV (4 series in H. atlantica and H. reversa but 3 series in H. eltaninae) and (2) from H atlantica by the absence of special arm-tip photophores and from H. reversa by the long connective complex in their spermatophores. If the dorsal (i.e., the 4th series) series of photophores in H. reversa has been lost due to damage, the number of photophores in the third series will separate the species: H. reversa has 5-8 while H. eltaninae has 2 or 3 (Voss, 1969).

We examined the mantle photophores of the holotype for the presence of posterior reflectors. Although the tissue was badly faded, no trace of the reflector could be found. Except for data on the posterior reflector on compound photophores, the above information is from Voss (1969) and Voss, et al. (1998).

New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, Southern Ocean

Geographical distribution

Type locality: 40° 05'S, 149° 55'W. The northern distributional boundary of H. eltaninae is the region of the Southern Subtropical Convergence. In some areas it strongly overlaps the distribution of its close relative H. atlantica (Voss, et al., 1998).

Holotype for Histioteuthis eltaninae Voss, 1969
Catalog Number: USNM 576164
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: female;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): University of Southern California
Year Collected: 1966
Locality: South Pacific Ocean
Depth (m): 880 to 880
Vessel: Eltanin R/V

Paratype for Histioteuthis eltaninae Voss, 1969
Catalog Number: USNM 576171
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: male;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): University of Southern California
Year Collected: 1964
Locality: South Pacific Ocean
Depth (m): 851 to 933
Vessel: Eltanin R/V

Paratype for Histioteuthis eltaninae Voss, 1969
Catalog Number: USNM 576173
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: male;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): University of Southern California
Year Collected: 1964
Locality: South Pacific Ocean
Depth (m): 714 to 851
Vessel: Eltanin R/V

Paratype for Histioteuthis eltaninae Voss, 1969
Catalog Number: USNM 576175
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: male;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): University of Southern California
Year Collected: 1964
Locality: South Pacific Ocean
Depth (m): 1120 to 1120
Vessel: Eltanin R/V

Paratype for Histioteuthis eltaninae Voss, 1969
Catalog Number: USNM 576170
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: male;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): University of Southern California
Year Collected: 1962
Locality: Hoste Island, Chile, South Pacific Ocean
Depth (m): 983 to 983
Vessel: Eltanin R/V

Paratype for Histioteuthis eltaninae Voss, 1969
Catalog Number: USNM 576172
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: female;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): University of Southern California
Year Collected: 1962
Locality: Drake Passage, Argentina, South Atlantic Ocean
Depth (m): 1830 to 1830
Vessel: Eltanin R/V

Paratype for Histioteuthis eltaninae Voss, 1969
Catalog Number: USNM 576174
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Sex/Stage: male;
Preparation: Isopropyl Alcohol
Collector(s): University of Southern California
Year Collected: 1962
Locality: Staten Island, east of island, Argentina, South Atlantic Ocean
Depth (m): 2891 to 2891
Vessel: Eltanin R/V

mesopelagic

Depth range based on 35 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 35 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 51.5 - 2890
  Temperature range (°C): 1.301 - 19.934
  Nitrate (umol/L): 1.501 - 39.027
  Salinity (PPS): 34.035 - 35.594
  Oxygen (ml/l): 3.203 - 7.244
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.243 - 2.676
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.222 - 113.579

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 51.5 - 2890

Temperature range (°C): 1.301 - 19.934

Nitrate (umol/L): 1.501 - 39.027

Salinity (PPS): 34.035 - 35.594

Oxygen (ml/l): 3.203 - 7.244

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.243 - 2.676

Silicate (umol/l): 1.222 - 113.579
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Males mature at 66-105 mm ML. Size at maturity in females is unknown. Largest known female is 98 mm ML. (Data from Voss, et al., 1998)

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Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1