Cirrina

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Cirrina
Stauroteuthis syrtensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopoda Subclass: Coleoidea Superorder: Octopodiformes Order: Octopoda Suborder: Cirrina Grimpe, 1916 sensu Felley et al., 2001
Families
Opisthoteuthidae Cirroteuthidae Stauroteuthidae
Synonyms
Cirrata Grimpe, 1916 Cirroctopoda Young, 1989

Cirrina is a suborder of the order Octopoda. Cirrina octopuses have a small, internal shell and two fins on their head, while their sister suborder, the Incirrina has neither.

The suborder is named for small cilia-like strands on the arms of the octopus. There is a pair of cirri for each sucker. These are thought to play some role in feeding, perhaps by creating currents of water that help bring food closer to the beak.

[edit] Classification

• CLASS CEPHALOPODA
  • Subclass Nautiloidea: nautilus
  • Subclass †Ammonoidea: ammonites
  • Subclass Coleoidea
    • Superorder Decapodiformes: squid, cuttlefish
    • Superorder Octopodiformes
      • Order Vampyromorphida: Vampire Squid
      • Order Octopoda
        • Genus †Pohlsepia (incertae sedis)
        • Genus †Proteroctopus (incertae sedis)
        • Genus †Palaeoctopus (incertae sedis)
        • Suborder Cirrina: finned deep-sea octopus
          • Family Opisthoteuthidae: umbrella octopus
          • Family Cirroteuthidae
          • Family Stauroteuthidae
        • Suborder Incirrina

[edit] External links

• Tree of Life website gives information about the classification of cephalopod groups