Histioteuthidae is a

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of Oegopsid squid. The family was previously considered to be

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...

but the

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assigns two genera to this family. The species classified under Histioteuthidae are mostly weakly muscled, moderately sized squid with a maximum mantle length of 33 cm. They generally have very long, robust

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and a short mantle with small, rounded fins. Their main distinguishing feature is that the eyes are different sizes and orient in different vertical directions. The larger left eye is semitubular, mobile, generally is directed back and up as indicated by the pattern of iridophores on the eye's outer surface. This means that when the squid is positioned obliquely the eye is pointed upwards towards the surface. It is thought that this is used to detect animals above the squid silhouetted against the sun during the day. The right eye has a normal shape and is oriented laterally and slightly downward. This arrangement gives the family the common name of cock-eyed squid.

Genera and species

There are two genera which are included in the Histioteuthidae and a total of circa 19 species: *'' Histioteuthis''

d'Orbigny Alcide Charles Victor Marie Dessalines d'Orbigny (6 September 1802 – 30 June 1857) was a French naturalist who made major contributions in many areas, including zoology (including malacology), palaeontology, geology, archaeology and anthrop ...

, 1841 **'' Histioteuthis atlantica'' ( Hoyle, 1885) **'' Histioteuthis berryi''

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, 1969 **'' Histioteuthis bonnellii'' ( Férussac, 1834) **'' Histioteuthis celetaria'' (Voss, 1960) **'' Histioteuthis cerasina'' Nesis, 1971 **'' Histioteuthis corona'' (Voss &

, 1962) **'' Histioteuthis eltaninae'' Voss, 1969 **''

Histioteuthis heteropsis ''Histioteuthis heteropsis'' (''H. heteropsis''), also known as the strawberry squid, is a species of small cock-eyed squid. The scientific nomenclature of these squid stems from their set of differently sized eyes, one being small and blue and ...

'' ( Berry, 1913) **'' Histioteuthis inermis'' (Taki, 1964) **'' Histioteuthis macrohista'' Voss, 1969 **'' Histioteuthis meleagroteuthis'' ( Chun, 1910) **'' Histioteuthis miranda'' (Berry, 1918) **'' Histioteuthis oceani'' ( Robson, 1948) **'' Histioteuthis pacifica'' (Voss, 1962) **'' Histioteuthis reversa'' (Verrill, 1880) *'' Stigmatoteuthis'' Pfeffer, 1900 **'' Stigmatoteuthis arcturi'' Robson, 1948 **'' Stigmatoteuthis dofleini'' Pfeffer, 1912 **'' Stigmatoteuthis hoylei'' ( Goodrich, 1896)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18549912 Squid Taxa named by Addison Emery Verrill Cephalopod families