''Octopoteuthis'' is a genus of

squid True squid are molluscs with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles in the superorder Decapodiformes, though many other molluscs within the broader Neocoleoidea are also called squid despite not strictly fitting t ...

. It is one of two genera in the family

Octopoteuthidae The Octopoteuthidae are a family of squid comprising two genera. The family is characterized by tentacles which cease to grow after the paralarval stage, and the use of a penis, instead of a hectocotylus A hectocotylus (plural: ''hectocotyli' ...

, the other being ''

Taningia ''Taningia'' is a genus of squid in the family Octopoteuthidae. For over 150 years, it has been believed to comprise a single species known as ''Taningia danae.'' Recently it has been shown to contain at least two new species ('' T. fimbria'', '' ...

''. Both ''Octopoteuthis'' and ''Taningia'' are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, and have traits characteristic of both squids and

octopod 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, cuttlefish ...

s. The species limits of the genus are in need of further research, for example some authorities have stated that the Mediterranean species ''

Octopoteuthis sicula ''Octopoteuthis'' is a genus of squid. It is one of two genera in the family Octopoteuthidae, the other being ''Taningia''. Both ''Octopoteuthis'' and ''Taningia'' are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, ...

'' is apparently the senior synonym of ''

Octopoteuthis danae ''Octopoteuthis danae'' is a little known species of small squid in the genus '' Octopoteuthis'' of the family Octopoteuthidae. They belong to the pelagic squid order Oegopsida. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean. It is distinguished from the othe ...

'' and that it is very closely related to, or possibly conspecific with, ''

Octopoteuthis megaptera ''Octopoteuthis'' is a genus of squid. It is one of two genera in the family Octopoteuthidae, the other being ''Taningia''. Both ''Octopoteuthis'' and ''Taningia'' are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, ...

''.

Species

The following species are recognised by the World Register of Marine Species: *''

Joubin Louis Marie Adolphe Olivier Édouard Joubin (27 February 1861 in Épinal – 24 April 1935 in Paris) was a professor at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris. He published works on nemerteans, chaetognatha, cephalopods, and other M ...

, 1931 *''

Octopoteuthis deletron ''Octopoteuthis deletron'' is a species of squid in the genus '' Octopoteuthis'' of the family Octopoteuthidae. They belong to the pelagic squids of order Oegopsida. Found at depths of in the Pacific Ocean, they have been known to grow to . '' ...

'' Young, 1972 *''

Octopoteuthis indica ''Octopoteuthis'' is a genus of squid. It is one of two genera in the family Octopoteuthidae, the other being ''Taningia''. Both ''Octopoteuthis'' and ''Taningia'' are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, ...

Naef Naef, Naeff or Näf is a Swiss surname that may refer to * Adolf Naef (1883–1949), Swiss zoologist and palaeontologist * Adrian Naef (born 1948), Swiss writer and musician * Ernest Näf (born 1920), Swiss racing cyclist * Fritz Naef (1934–2014) ...

, 1923 *''

Octopoteuthis longiptera ''Octopoteuthis'' is a genus of squid. It is one of two genera in the family Octopoteuthidae, the other being ''Taningia''. Both ''Octopoteuthis'' and ''Taningia'' are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, ...

'' * Akimushkin, 1963 *''

'' ( Verrill, 1885) *''

Octopoteuthis nielseni ''Octopoteuthis'' is a genus of squid. It is one of two genera in the family Octopoteuthidae, the other being ''Taningia''. Both ''Octopoteuthis'' and ''Taningia'' are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, ...

'' Robson, 1948 *''

Octopoteuthis rugosa ''Octopoteuthis'' is a genus of squid. It is one of two genera in the family Octopoteuthidae, the other being ''Taningia''. Both ''Octopoteuthis'' and ''Taningia'' are characterized by their lack of tentacles for the majority of their life cycle, ...

'' Clarke, 1980 *''

'' Rüppell, 1844, Ruppell's octopus squid Species marked with an asterisk (*) is a ''

nomen dubium In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Zoology In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...

'' and may not be a valid taxon

References

Squid Bioluminescent molluscs {{squid-stub