Chtenopteryx

[GPO87]

These guys are distinguishable by the muscular ribbed fins present on the mantle. (Yes, it kinda looks like a comb). Number of species in this genera is disputed (possibly 3 or 4 depending on what source you look at).



Info at:
Chtenopteryx

 

[DWhatley]

OK, this is one ugly ... squid? (the fins would seem to almost qualify for Cuttlefish). In the photo anyway, the think looks like some kind of skeleton and threatening.

 

[GPO87]

yeah unfortunately, these lesser known squids don't have an abundance of "lovely" photos... or the ones that are nice, have watermarks embedded into them.

I totally agree though, I instantly thought that this squid looks a bit like a squid/cuttle cross.

 

[GPO87]

Crazy-awesome video alert!
So, it is believed that this is the first footage of a live Chtenopteryx species. How amazing! @DWhatley, I think you may need to retract your previous statement about it being ugly!

Thessaloniki Biology: Comb-Finned Squid

 

[DWhatley]

Comment retracted ! LOVE the stuff that they post on Nautilus Live

 

[tonmo]

404 not found

 

[GPO87]

All fixed @tonmo ! They had changed the URL to reflect the new identification of the animal. Should work now.

 

[tonmo]

VERY COOL

 

[sirreal]

spectacular!! Love the fluid motion of the fins on the mantle

 

[jeffday]

have some more footage of these guys. NOAA saw one in 2019 off blake plateau

 

[jeffday]

also turns out JAMSTEC has footage that predates the nautilus observation by six years

Chtenopteryx sicula (Swimming) | JAMSTEC E-library of Deep-sea Images

 

[tonmo]

nice find, as usual, Jeff! Thanks for sharing.

 

[jeffday]

schmidt saw one of these on an ascent during dive 439 (h/t to lisa aka TUExplorer1 for surfacing this observation)

https://x.com/TUExplorer1/status/1698302820674416898?s=20

ROV Dive 439 - ABNJ (High Seas) Seamount #5

Join RV Falkor and the science team from the FK210605 expedition for a mid-depth dive on the east side of ABNJ seamount #5, a newly mapped seamount in an Are...

www.youtube.com

 

[jeffday]

also fwiw the Galway NUI ceph crew + Gustavo Sanchez, Diego Deville, and Roger Villanueva did a paper on cryptic biodiversity in oegopsida that identified some new species of chtenopteryx this year: Atlantic Oceanic Squids in the “Grey Speciation Zone”

 

[jeffday]

steven kovacs with a stunning photo of a larval cthenopteryx off of japan

https://twitter.com/x/status/1747958865654636887