Diversity of the Squid Genus Leachia (Oegopsida: Cranchiidae) in the Pacific Ocean
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Authors
Evans, AB
Bolstad, KSR
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
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Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract
Leachia is a cosmopolitan tropical/temperate genus of ‘glass’ squids (Cranchiidae) whose taxonomy has been plagued with instability typical of the family. Eight species are currently believed to exist worldwide, including some not yet described. This review assesses the Pacific taxa, describes a novel species, L. separata, and provides updated diagnoses for the other Pacific species. Type material and original descriptions are compared, and brief remarks provided on the Atlantic taxa. The most useful characters for identifying Leachia species appear to be the number of ocular photophores and the configuration of the ventral cartilaginous strips and associated tubercles on the mantle, with arm and sucker-ring dentition also proving useful in some taxa. Further work on the genus is needed, ideally including molecular tools.Description
Keywords
31 Biological Sciences, 3103 Ecology, 3104 Evolutionary Biology, 05 Environmental Sciences, 06 Biological Sciences, 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Marine Biology & Hydrobiology, 3103 Ecology, 3109 Zoology
Source
Marine Biology, ISSN: 0025-3162 (Print); 1432-1793 (Online), Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 170(6), 72-. doi: 10.1007/s00227-023-04215-2