''Mastigoteuthis magna'' is a species of

whip-lash squid The Mastigoteuthidae, also known as whip-lash squid, are a family of small deep-sea squid. Approximately 20 known species in six genera are represented, with members found in both the pelagic zone, mesopelagic and Bathypelagic zone, bathypelagic z ...

, characterised by a lack of

photophore A photophore is a specialized anatomical structure found in a variety of organisms that emits light through the process of boluminescence. This light may be produced endogenously by the organism itself (symbiotic) or generated through a mut ...

s. The

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...

is heavily

pigment A pigment is a powder used to add or alter color or change visual appearance. Pigments are completely or nearly solubility, insoluble and reactivity (chemistry), chemically unreactive in water or another medium; in contrast, dyes are colored sub ...

ed a deep red by a numerous

chromatophore Chromatophores are cells that produce color, of which many types are pigment-containing cells, or groups of cells, found in a wide range of animals including amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans and cephalopod A cephalopod is any member o ...

s. Image:Mastigoteuthis magna2.jpg, Side view of a club sucker Image:Mastigoteuthis magna3.jpg, Funnel component of the funnel locking apparatus Mastigoteuthis magna.jpg, ''M. magna''

References

*Joubin, L. 1920. ''Céphalopodes provenant des Campagnes de la Princesse Alice (1898–1910)''. 3e Serie. Monaco.

External links

Tree of Life web project: ''Mastigoteuthis magna''
Mastigoteuthis Cephalopods described in 1913 {{Squid-stub