''Sepioteuthis'', commonly known as reef squids or oval squids, is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
pencil squid
Loliginidae, commonly known as pencil squids, is an aquatic Family (biology), family of squid classified in the order Myopsida.
Taxonomy
The family Loliginidae was formerly classified in the order Teuthida.
Taxonomic list
The classificatio ...
. Reef squids are easily recognizable by their large rounded fins that extend along almost the entire length of their
mantles, giving them a superficial resemblance to
cuttlefish
Cuttlefish, or cuttles, are Marine (ocean), marine Mollusca, molluscs of the order (biology), suborder Sepiina. They belong to the class (biology), class Cephalopoda which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Cuttlefish have a unique ...
.
Species
Three species are currently recognized,
though ''S. australis'' and ''S. lessoniana'' are believed to be
cryptic species complex
In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...
es.
:*''
Sepioteuthis australis
''Sepioteuthis australis'', commonly known as the southern calamari or the southern reef squid, is a species of reef squid that is native to oceans off the coast of Australia and New Zealand. This species is caught commercially by trawling, as by ...
'', southern reef squid or southern calamary
:*''
Sepioteuthis lessoniana
''Sepioteuthis lessoniana'', commonly known as the bigfin reef squid, tiger squid, glitter squid, oval squid, or northern calamari, is a species of Loliginidae, loliginid squid. It is one of the three currently recognized species belonging to t ...
'', bigfin reef squid or northern calamary
:*''
Sepioteuthis sepioidea
The Caribbean reef squid (''Sepioteuthis sepioidea''), commonly called the reef squid, is a species of small, torpedo-shaped squid with undulating fins that extend nearly the entire length of the body, approximately 20 cm (8 in) in length. They ...
'', Caribbean reef squid
An additional species, ''
S. loliginiformis'', was described in 1828, but its validity is questionable. However, if the species turns out to be the same as ''S. australis'' or ''S. lessoniana'', ''S. loliginiformis'' would be the
senior synonym
In taxonomy, the scientific classification of living organisms, a synonym is an alternative scientific name for the accepted scientific name of a taxon. The botanical and zoological codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently.
...
and replace the younger name currently in use.
References
External links
Tree of Life web project: Loliginidae
Loliginidae
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