''Amphitretus'' is a
genus of
pelagic gelatinous
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, cuttle ...
es. It is the sole genus of
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Amphitretinae, one of three subfamilies in the
family Amphitretidae
Amphitretidae is a family of mesopelagic octopods which contains three subfamilies, formerly classified as families in their own right. It is classified in the superfamily Octopodoidea. Species in the family Amphipetridae are characterised by hav ...
and consists of two
species. Some authorities consider ''
Amphitretus thielei'' as a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of ''
Amphitretus pelagicus'', which would make the genus
monotypic.
References
Tree of Life website gives information about the classification of cephalopod groups
Octopuses
Cephalopod genera
Taxa named by William Evans Hoyle
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