''Helicocranchia'' 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 ...

of small glass squids 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 ...

Cranchiidae The family Cranchiidae comprises the approximately 60 species of glass squid, also known as cockatoo squid, cranchiid, cranch squid, or bathyscaphoid squid. Cranchiid squid occur in surface and midwater depths of open oceans around the world. The ...

, known as piglet squid. They are characterized by possessing a very large funnel and in having a pair of small paddle-like fins which are attached to a part of the

gladius ''Gladius'' () is a Latin word meaning "sword" (of any type), but in its narrow sense it refers to the sword of ancient Roman foot soldiers. Early ancient Roman swords were similar to those of the Greeks, called '' xiphe'' (plural; singular ''xi ...

which sits above the muscular

mantle A mantle is a piece of clothing, a type of cloak. Several other meanings are derived from that. Mantle may refer to: *Mantle (clothing), a cloak-like garment worn mainly by women as fashionable outerwear **Mantle (vesture), an Eastern Orthodox ve ...

. These squid undergo a slow descent starting near the surface as

paralarvae Paralarvae (singular: ''paralarva'') are young cephalopods in the planktonic stages between hatchling and subadult. This stage differs from the larval stage of animals that undergo true metamorphosis. Paralarvae have been observed only in mem ...

moving down to lower mesopelagic depths as near-adults. The genus contains bioluminescent species.

Species

There are three species of Helicocranchia: *''

Helicocranchia joubini ''Helicocranchia'' is a genus of small glass squids from the family Cranchiidae, known as piglet squid. They are characterized by possessing a very large funnel and in having a pair of small paddle-like fins which are attached to a part of the g ...

'' (Voss, 1962) *'' Helicocranchia papillata'' (Voss, 1960) *''

Helicocranchia pfefferi ''Helicocranchia pfefferi'', the banded piglet squid, is a small squid of the genus '' Helicocranchia''. Adults of this species are mesopelaegic. Physical characteristics The average size of adult ''H. pfefferi'' is in mantle length (ML). Th ...

'' Massy, 1907

References

External links

CephBase: HelicocranchiaTree of Life web project: ''Helicocranchia''
Squid Cephalopod genera Bioluminescent molluscs Taxa named by Annie Massy {{squid-stub