''Cirrothauma'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of deep water
octopus
An octopus ( : octopuses or octopodes, see below for variants) is a soft-bodied, eight- limbed mollusc of the order Octopoda (, ). The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttlefis ...
es from the
cirrate
Cirrina or Cirrata is a suborder and one of the two main divisions of octopuses. Cirrate octopuses have a small, internal shell and two fins on their head, while their sister suborder Incirrina has neither. The fins of cirrate octopods are asso ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Cirroteuthidae
Cirroteuthidae is a family of cirrate octopuses comprising three species in two genera.
Species
*Genus ''Cirroteuthis''
**'' Cirroteuthis muelleri''
*Genus '' Cirrothauma''
**'' Cirrothauma magna''
**''Cirrothauma murrayi
''Cirrothauma murrayi ...
. The species ''Cirrothauma'' are fragile, gelatinous deep-sea octopods with a shell, a moderate saddle, and triangular wings. Their eyes either have lenses, as seen in the species ''
Cirrothauma murrayi
''Cirrothauma murrayi,'' commonly called the "Blind cirrate octopus," is a nearly blind octopus whose eyes can sense light, but not form images. It has been found worldwide, usually beneath the ocean's surface. Like other cirrates, it has an int ...
'' or they have reduced eyes without lenses, shown in the other extant species ''
Cirrothauma magna''. Both species were placed in ''Cirrothauma'' due to the fact that they possess similar shells.
These octopuses have been reported to live in all the world's oceans, except for the Southern Ocean.
Species
There are two currently recognised species within the genus ''Cirrothauma''
[
*'' Cirrothauma magna'' ( Hoyle, 1885)
*'']Cirrothauma murrayi
''Cirrothauma murrayi,'' commonly called the "Blind cirrate octopus," is a nearly blind octopus whose eyes can sense light, but not form images. It has been found worldwide, usually beneath the ocean's surface. Like other cirrates, it has an int ...
'' Chun, 1911
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q18519178
Octopuses
Cephalopod genera