Austrorossia mastigophora

Austrorossia mastigophora
Female Austrorossia mastigophora (ca. 45 mm ML) from the east African coast
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Sepiolida
Family: Sepiolidae
Subfamily: Rossiinae
Genus: Austrorossia
Species:
A. mastigophora
Binomial name
Austrorossia mastigophora
(Chun, 1915)[2]
Synonyms
  • Rossia mastigophora Chun, 1915

Austrorossia mastigophora is a species of bobtail squid native to western, southern and eastern Africa, from Guinea and Somalia to the Cape of Good Hope. A doubtful record of this species exists from Chile. It lives at depths to approximately 640 m.[3]

On average, females are larger than males; they grow to 46 mm and 31 mm in mantle length, respectively.[3]

The type specimen was collected in the Indian Ocean near the east African coast (0°27′S 42°47′E / 0.450°S 42.783°E / -0.450; 42.783) by the Valdivia Expedition and the species was described by the leader of that expedition, Carl Chun, the description being published in 1915.[4] It is deposited in the Zoological Collection of the Natural History Museum, Berlin.[5]

  • Mantle cavity of a mature female. Arrow points to the epirenal body, the function of which is unknown.
    Mantle cavity of a mature female. Arrow points to the epirenal body, the function of which is unknown.
  • Twisted tentacular club of the same specimen.
    Twisted tentacular club of the same specimen.
  1. ^ Allcock, L.; Barratt, I. (2012). "Austrorossia mastigophora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T162495A901868. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T162495A901868.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Julian Finn (2016). "Austrorossia mastigophora (Chun, 1915)". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b Reid, A. & P. Jereb 2005. Family Sepiolidae. In: P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 153–203.
  4. ^ P. Jereb; C.F.E. Roper, eds. (2005). Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. FAO. p. 197.
  5. ^ Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda