From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Dana Octopus Squid |
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| Scientific classification |
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Binomial name
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Taningia danae
Joubin, 1931 |
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Synonyms
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- Cucioteuthis unguiculatus
Joubin, 1898
- Cucioteuthis unguiculatus
Clarke, 1956
- Cucioteuthis unguiculata
Rees & Maul, 1956
- Cucioteuthis unguiculata
Clarke, 1962
- Enoploteuthis cookii
Owen, 1881
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The Dana Octopus Squid (Taningia danae) is a species of squid in the family Octopoteuthidae. It reaches a mantle length (ML) of 170 cm,[1] and is probably the fifth largest squid after the Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), giant squid (Architeuthis sp.), Robust Clubhook Squid (Moroteuthis robusta), and Megalocranchia fisheri. Taningia danae is named after Danish fisheries biologist Aage Vedel Taaning (1890-1958), who often traveled on the research vessel Dana.
[edit] Hunting behaviour and bioluminescence
In 2005, a Japanese research team headed by Tsunemi Kubodera managed to film T. danae in its natural habitat for the first time. The video footage, shot in deep water off Chichi-jima in the northern Pacific Ocean, shows T. danae emitting blinding flashes of light as it attacks its prey. It is believed that this highly maneuverable squid uses the bright flashes to disorientate potential prey. The footage reveals short flashes from light-producing photophores on its arms. These flashes may also serve to illuminate the prey to make for easier capture as well as a courtship and territorial display.[2]
Still image from the first video footage of a live
Taningia danae in its natural habitat.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Nesis, K.N. 1982. Abridged key to the cephalopod mollusks of the world's ocean. Light and Food Industry Publishing House, Moscow. 385+ii pp. (Russian) [Translated into English by B. S. Levitov, ed. by L. A. Burgess 1987. Cephalopods of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, NJ. 351pp.]
- ^ Kubodera, T., Y. Koyama & K. Mori 2006. Observations of wild hunting behaviour and bioluminescence of a large deep-sea, eight-armed squid, Taningia danae.PDF (295 KiB) Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (published online). doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.0236
[edit] External link
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