''Octopoteuthis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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

tentacle In zoology, a tentacle is a flexible, mobile, and elongated organ present in some species of animals, most of them invertebrates. In animal anatomy, tentacles usually occur in one or more pairs. Anatomically, the tentacles of animals work main ...

s 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 The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnae ...

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''.

Species

The following species are recognised by the

World Register of Marine Species The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialist ...

: *''

'' Joubin, 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 Young may refer to: * Offspring, the product of reproduction of a new organism produced by one or more parents * Youth, the time of life when one is young, often meaning the time between childhood and adulthood Music * The Young, an American roc ...

, 1972 *'' Octopoteuthis indica''

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'' * Akimushkin, 1963 *'' Octopoteuthis megaptera'' ( 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