Under Construction

The following 11 species are recognized in the genus.

Containing group: Enoploteuthidae

Introduction

Enoploteuthis contains the largest species in the family one, at least, can reach 130 mm ML. The species are most easily recognized by their larger tail compared to members of other genera in the family. The size of the tail is emphasized by the absence of fins along its sides. This contrasts with the narrow extension of the fins along the tails of members of related genera.

Brief diagnosis: 

An enoploteuthid ... 

• without large, black photophores at the tips of arms IV.
• with fins terminating well in advance of posterior tip of tail. 

Characteristics

From Young, et al., 1998.

1. Arms
   1. Suckers present distally on Arms IV.
      
      
2. Tentacles
   1. Manus of club with two series of hooks; marginal suckers absent.
      
      
3. Buccal crown
   1. Typical chromatophores on aboral surface; may have light epithelial pigmentation on oral surface.
      
      
4. Photophores
   1. Tips of arms IV lack enlarged photophores.
   2. Nine to ten photophores on eyeball.
   3. Complex photophores of integument, in life, without red-colored filters.
      
      
5. Fins
   1. Fins terminate well in advance of posterior tip of tail. (see title photograph).
      
      
6. Spermatangia receptacles
   
   1. Present at posterior junction of funnel-retractor muscles and head-retractor muscles.
      

Comments

Enoploteuthis has only two clearly defined types of integumental photophores in contrast to other enoploteuthid genera which have three types of photophores on the ventral surfaces of the head, funnel and mantle. The most complex type is found in all species examined and seems to be distinctive of the genus.

Classification

This genus consists of two natural groups: subgenus Enoploteuthis, which is characterized by having short, thin tentacles with small, thin clubs and subgenus Paraenoploteuthis, which has relatively long, thick tentacles with robust clubs (Tsuchiya and Okutani, 1988). The difference in the appearance of the tentacle is striking. Details of the club differ as follows:

Tentacular club	Enoploteuthis (Enoploteuthis)	Enoploteuthis (Paraenoploteuthis)
Carpal locking-apparatus	Very elongate	Nearly circular
Relative hook size between the two series on manus	Often subequal	Very unequal
Dactylus suckers	2 series	4 series
Ventral protective membrane ("flap") on manus	Absent	Present
Two Crest ridges below Hood on upper beak	Absent	Present

Other features that separate the subgenera include (1) differences in the hectocotylus (single flap on the ventral margin in E. (Enoploteuthis) vs single flaps on both margins in E. (Paraenoploteuthis)) and (2) numerous, small papillae on the oral surfaces arm I-III (present in males of E. (Enoploteuthis), absent in E. (Paraenoploteuthis)).

References

Burgess, L. A. 1982. Four new species of squid (Oegopsida: Enoploteuthis) from the Central Pacific and a description of adult Enoploteuthis reticulata. Fish. Bull. 80: 703-734.

Roper, C.F.E.1964. Enoploteuthis anapsis, a new species of enoploteuthid squid (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) from the Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of Marine Science of the Gulf and Caribbean, 14(1):140-148.

Tsuchiya, K. and T. Okutani. 1988. Subgenera of Enoploteuthis, Abralia and Abraliopsis of the squid family Enoploteuthidae (Cephalopoda, Oegopsida). Bulletin of the National Science Museum, Tokyo (series A) 14: 119-136.

Young, R. E., L. A. Burgess, C. F. E. Roper, M. J. Sweeney and S. J. Stephen. 1998. Classification of the Enoploteuthidae, Pyroteuthidae and Ancistrocheiridae. Smithsonian Contr. to Zoology, 586: 239-255.