''Loliolus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of squid from the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Loliginidae Loliginidae, commonly known as pencil squids, is an aquatic family of squid classified in the order Myopsida. Taxonomy The family Loliginidae was formerly classified in the order Teuthida. Taxonomic list The classification below follows ...

from the Indo-Pacific region. The genus is divided into two subgenera ''Loliolus'' and ''Nipponololigo''. They are small squids of less than 150mm in mantle length which have an expanded

tentacular club All cephalopods possess flexible limbs extending from their heads and surrounding their beaks. These appendages, which function as muscular hydrostats, have been variously termed arms, legs or tentacles. Description In the scientific l ...

. This club has 4 series of suckers. The sucker rings have plate-like teeth which are square in shape all around them. The males'

hectocotylus A hectocotylus (plural: ''hectocotyli'') is one of the arms of male cephalopods that is specialized to store and transfer spermatophores to the female. Structurally, hectocotyli are muscular hydrostats. Depending on the species, the male may use i ...

has a ventral crest which is created by the fusion of the protective membrane with the ventral series of papillae and this crest completely obscures the conical shape of the papillae. The mantle is rounded posteriorly and lacks the posterior tail-like lobe while the

fins A fin is a thin component or appendage attached to a larger body or structure. Fins typically function as foils that produce lift or thrust, or provide the ability to steer or stabilize motion while traveling in water, air, or other fluids. Fin ...

are positioned on the rear of the mantle and extend to the posterior tip of the mantle. Their eggs are small and the males'

spermatophore A spermatophore or sperm ampulla is a capsule or mass containing spermatozoa created by males of various animal species, especially salamanders and arthropods, and transferred in entirety to the female's ovipore during reproduction. Spermatophores ...

has a short cement body. They do not possess

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. The two subgenera are distinguished by the hectocotylus which in ''Loliolus'' encompasses the entire arm and there are no unmodified suckers while in ''Nipponololigo'' the arm is only partly hectocotylsed and has normal suckers at its base.

Species

The following species are classified as belonging to ''Loliolus'': *Subgenus ''Loliolus (Loliolus)'' Steenstrup, 1856 **''

Loliolus affinis ''Loliolus'' is a genus of squid from the family Loliginidae from the Indo-Pacific region. The genus is divided into two subgenera ''Loliolus'' and ''Nipponololigo''. They are small squids of less than 150mm in mantle length which have an exp ...

'' Steenstrup, 1856 little Indian squid **''

Loliolus hardwickei ''Loliolus'' is a genus of squid from the Family (biology), family Loliginidae from the Indo-Pacific region. The genus is divided into two subgenus, subgenera ''Loliolus'' and ''Nipponololigo''. They are small squids of less than 150mm in Mantle ...

'' (

Gray Grey (more common in British English) or gray (more common in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning literally that it is "without color", because it can be composed o ...

, 1849) Steenstrup’s bay squid *Subgenus ''Loliolus (Nipponololigo)'' Natsukari, 1983 **''

Loliolus beka ''Loliolus'' is a genus of squid from the family Loliginidae from the Indo-Pacific region. The genus is divided into two subgenera ''Loliolus'' and ''Nipponololigo''. They are small squids of less than 150mm in mantle length which have an exp ...

'' ( Sasaki, 1929) Beka squid **''

Loliolus japonica ''Loliolus Japonica'', the Japanese squid, is a species of squid from the family Loliginidae. As the name suggests, it lives around Japan, but has also been found around Vietnam and China. They are pelagic, living down in the ocean. The Japan ...

'' ( Hoyle, 1885) Japanese squid **''

Loliolus sumatrensis ''Loliolus'' is a genus of squid from the family Loliginidae from the Indo-Pacific region. The genus is divided into two subgenera ''Loliolus'' and ''Nipponololigo''. They are small squids of less than 150mm in mantle length which have an exp ...

'' (

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 ...

in Férussac & d'Orbigny], 1835) Kobi squid **''

Loliolus uyii ''Loliolus'' is a genus of squid from the family Loliginidae from the Indo-Pacific region. The genus is divided into two subgenera ''Loliolus'' and ''Nipponololigo''. They are small squids of less than 150mm in mantle length which have an exp ...

'' (Wakiya & Ishikawa, 1921) little squid

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3829149 Squid Cephalopod genera