Pholidoteuthis

[GPO87]

The genus Pholidoteuthis contains two species (possibly more), which like in the deep-sea. They are called "scaled squid" due to their identifying feature: "dermal cushions" (or texture) found on their skin. They are fairly large squid (over a meter total length).


Pholidoteuthis adami

More info here

 

[GPO87]

Here's a video of mating pholidoteuthis that was shown at CIAC.

Click on this link to the NOAA site to watch! (You will need quicktime).

Edit: DWhatley

Or Not :

and a somewhat tongue and cheek approach from Deep Sea News to describing the unusual (for squid) mating behavior, Penetrating the mysteries of sex in deep-sea squid Jan 16, 2012

 

[Cairnos]

Anyone know a common name for Pholidoteuthis massyae? So far I've found 'coffeebean scaled squid'. Any comments/alternatives?

 

[GPO87]

Hey Cairnos

As far as I can tell, coffee-bean scaled squid seems to be as good a name as any! Many of the lesser known mesopelagic squid don't have common names, so if you found that one, feel free to use it. In general, any species of pholidoteuthis is usually just referred to as a 'scaled squid' (I guess if you want to distinguish between the shapes of the dermal cushions, that is up to you!)

Just as long as we don't start squabbling over how dark the roast of the coffee beans are!

 

[jeffday]

here's an observation of one from nautilus back in 2015

 

[jeffday]

here's another one