Original paper
A redescription of the lectotype of Grimpoteuthis umbellata (Octopoda: Cirrata: Grimpoteuthidae), and its taxonomic implications
Verhoeff, Tristan Joseph; O'Shea Steve,
Archiv für Molluskenkunde International Journal of Malacology Band 154 Heft 2 (2025), p. 305 - 315
25 references
published: Sep 30, 2025
published online: Sep 29, 2025
DOI: 10.1127/arch.moll/154/305-315
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
Grimpoteuthis umbellata Fischer, 1893, the type species of the genus Grimpoteuthis Robson, 1932, the type genus of the family Grimpoteuthidae O’Shea, 1999, was described from 3 specimens (syntypes), 2 of which were damaged and 1 of which was a juvenile, collected in 1883 off the Azores (North Atlantic) between 1139 and 2235 m depth. Despite the systematic importance of this taxon, this species has remained poorly known. We re-describe the remnants of the extant, very damaged and since-designated lectotype to stabilize the concept of the species and genus, as part of an ongoing review of cirrate taxa. Of accepted North Atlantic congeners, G. umbellata is unique in lacking a radula and posterior salivary glands, and in having 8 lamellae per gill and web nodules positioned between suckers 27 and 31 along the arms. It differs from other adequately described species from the North Atlantic in combinations of various characters and their states. While we demonstrate that G. umbellata is most similar to Grimpoteuthis discoveryi Collins, 2003, we report certain characters and their states that serve to differentiate these 2 species. Further characters and their states are summarised for 6 grimpoteuthid taxa from the northeastern Atlantic to facilitate ongoing taxonomic revision of this and other deep-sea genera of finned octopus.
Keywords
Taxonomy • systematics • cephalopod • cirrate octopus • deep-sea