Another undescribed Opisthoteuthis species may occur in the north-east Pacific, overlapping the distribution of O. albatrossi (as the latter was described first in 1920, the former in 1949). californiana is morphologically very similar to Opisthoteuthis albatrossi, and they may be the same species, but the two have never been critically compared (due to the latter being historically placed in the genus Stauroteuthis). californiana is one of 14 species in the genus Opisthoteuthis, these species are also collectively known as the flapjack devilfishes (due to the anterior-posterior compression of their bodies). Males move seasonally, and occur in shallower waters during the summer.
DUMBO SQUID SERIES
californiana the males lack the hectocotylus of typical octopus, instead having a series of enlarged suckers that presumably have a role in mating or competition. Estimations of egg hatching time (using water temperature and egg size) for O. californiana females carry about 1400–2380 eggs in their ovary, with the individually spawned mature eggs measuring 11 mm long. These eggs have a hard, protective outer shell (unlike the eggs of incirrate octopus) and are not brooded or protected by the mother, the hatched young undergo direct development (lacking the paralarvae stage of incirrate octopus) and are likely benthic. Opisthoteuthis species (like other cirrate octopuses) use continuous spawning, where the female lays one or two large eggs at a time over several years (rather than a large batch near the end of her lifespan). The depth at which the species occurs typically ranges from 124 to 823 m, but more recent records indicate that they may occur down to 1500 m. californiana has a distribution in the northern and northeastern Pacific, ranging in the west from off central Honshū (Japan) and the Sea of Okhotsk, its northernmost range is the Bering Sea, and its eastern range is along the western coast of North America as far south as Eureka Bar, California (the type locality, at 350 m depth). They swim by moving their fins, pulsing their webbed arms, pushing water through their funnel for jet propulsion, or all three at once. They have a gelatinous body, which spreads into a parachute shape when maneuvering through dimly lit water. They have eight arms (like any other octopus), but these affixed together in an umbrella shape. Their maximum size is 20 cm (7.9 in) mantle length. They have fins above their eyes, similar to those found on some species of squid. Opisthoteuthis californiana, also known as the flapjack octopus or adorabilis, is a species of umbrella octopus.įlapjack octopi usually appear pinkish.
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