''Gonatopsis'' 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 ...

from 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 ...

Gonatidae The Gonatidae, also known as armhook squid, are a family of moderately sized squid. The family contains about 19 species in three genera, widely distributed and plentiful in cold boreal waters of the Pacific Ocean. At least one species is known f ...

. They are characterised by the loss of their

tentacles 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 ...

by the time they have reach the subadult stage. They have

arms Arms or ARMS may refer to: *Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons **Fi ...

which have two series of hooks along the midline of the oral surface arms, the

radula The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...

has five or seven teeth, the mantle can be muscular or flabby, fins are rhomboid or arrow shaped and they lack

photophore A photophore is a glandular organ that appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; equipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors, ...

s. They are found in the North Pacific.

Species

The following species have been classified as belonging to ''Gonatopsis'': *''

Gonatopsis borealis ''Gonatopsis borealis'', the Boreopacific armhook squid, is a species of squid from the North Pacific Ocean. It is a member of the family Gonatidae. It is an abundant species which is currently caught mainly as a bycatch by fishing boats targetin ...

'' Sasaki, 1923 *''

Gonatopsis japonicus ''Gonatopsis japonicus'' is a species of squid from the family Gonatidae. This species is restricted to the western North Pacific in the seas around the Japanese Archipelago. Description ''Gonatopsis japonicus'' is a squid with a slender, muscul ...

'' Okiyama, 1969 *''

Gonatopsis makko ''Gonatopsis'' is a genus of squid from the family Gonatidae. They are characterised by the loss of their tentacles by the time they have reach the subadult stage. They have arms which have two series of hooks along the midline of the oral surfac ...

'' Okutani & Nemoto, 1964 *''

Gonatopsis octopedatus ''Gonatopsis'' is a genus of squid from the family Gonatidae. They are characterised by the loss of their tentacles by the time they have reach the subadult stage. They have arms which have two series of hooks along the midline of the oral surfac ...

'' Sasaki, 1920 *''

Gonatopsis okutanii ''Gonatopsis okutanii'' is a species of squid from the family Gonatidae from the northern Pacific Ocean. It is of uncertain taxonomic status, the presence of remnant tentacles on spent females indicate that this species does not belong in the ge ...

'' * Nesis, 1972 The species listed above with an asterisk (*) is a ''

taxon inquirendum In biological classification, a ''species inquirenda'' is a species of doubtful identity requiring further investigation. The use of the term in English-language biological literature dates back to at least the early nineteenth century. The term t ...

'' and needs further study to determine if it is a valid species or a synonym.

References

Squid Cephalopod genera {{squid-stub