Introduction

Two species of Heteroteuthis have been described from the South Pacific. H. serventyi Allan, 1945, was taken near Jarvis Bay, S.E. New South Wales, Australia at 35.1°S, 150.9°E and the holotype is small (7 mm ML) and apparently a female. H. hawaiiensis dagamensis Robson, 1924 (elevated to specific level by Nesis 1982/87), was captured off the Natal coast, South Africa, and the syntypes are large (19, 21 mm ML) but also female. The distinctive feature that separates this species from H. dispar/H. hawaiiensis is found in the male. We have seen specimens from near the type locality of both species. Since H. dagamensis has priority, and since we assume that only one species is found in these waters, we accept this as the correct species name.