Redescription of the deep-sea octopod Benthoctopus normani (Massy 1907) and a description of a new species from the Northeast Atlantic

Abstract

A long-synonymized species Benthoctopus normani (Massy 1907) (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) is redescribed from material collected over 30 years by the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton and the National Museums of Scotland. It can be distinguished from other octopodid specimens found in deep waters of the Northeast Atlantic by its biserial suckers, lack of ink sac, and simple ligula, which lacks transverse ridges. Examination of the collections led to the identification of a new species of Benthoctopus from the Northeast Atlantic, which is described herein.

Keywords:

• Benthoctopus johnsoniana
• Benthoctopus normani
• Cephalopoda
• deep sea
• Northeast Atlantic

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgments

Jan Strugnell is supported by NERC AFI NE/C506321/1. Sankurie Pye provided loans from the National Museums of Scotland. Dave Billett facilitated loan of the Discovery Collections. Cynthia Yau was involved with initial investigations into this collection. Amelia McClelland assisted with the registration of specimens at the BMNH. Additional illustrations by Ian Rendell. Kirsty Kemp supplied the in situ photograph of Benthoctopus johnsoniana. We thank them all, together with the two anonymous referees whose comments undoubtedly improved the manuscript.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark