Ommastrephidae

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Ommastrephidae is a family of squid containing three subfamilies, 11 genera, and over 20 species. They are widely distributed globally and are extensively fished for food. One species, Todarodes pacificus, comprised around half of the world's cephalopod catch annually.<ref name="fao"/>

Some members of Ommastrephidae are known for their jet-propelled flight, earning them the common name of "flying squid".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Description

The ommastrephids are small to large squids, with mantle lengths ranging from that of the glass squid (Hyaloteuthis pelagica) at Template:Convert,<ref name="tol">Nesis, K. N. 1982. Abridged key to the cephalopod mollusks of the world's ocean. 385,ii pp. Light and Food Industry Publishing House, Moscow. (In 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.</ref> to the Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) at Template:Convert.<ref>Glaubrecht, M. & M.A. Salcedo-Vargas 2004. The Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas (Orbigny, 1835): History of the Berlin specimen, with a reappraisal of other (bathy-)pelagic gigantic cephalopods (Mollusca, Ommastrephidae, Architeuthidae). Zoosystematics and Evolution 80(1): 53–69. Template:Doi</ref> The mantle narrows towards the back and possesses large terminal fins.<ref name="wormuth">Template:Cite book</ref> The family is characterized by an inverted T-shaped funnel locking cartilage.<ref name="tolweb">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="wormuth"/> They have an easily recognizable, slender, feather-shaped gladius with a hollow cone structure (the primary conus). Light organs (photophores) are present along the head and mantle of members of the subfamily Ommastrephinae.<ref name="tolweb" /><ref name="wormuth"/>

The gladius of Illex illecebrosus

Ommastrephid arms have a double series of suckers. The enlarged tips (the clubs) of the tentacles have four rows of suckers, except in the genus Illex, which has eight. Hooks are absent. One of the ventral arms develops into a secondary sexual organ (the hectocotylus) in males.<ref name="fao">Template:Cite book</ref>

All ommastrephids are active predators. Their arms and tentacles bear sharp teeth and are used to grasp and bring prey to their beaked mouths.<ref name="lamprell">Template:Cite book</ref> They are very strong swimmers, and some species are known to glide out of water to escape predators.<ref name="tolweb" />

Ommastrephid paralarvae are distinctive for having fused tentacles, looking like a single "proboscis". It gradually splits into two as the paralarvae grow becoming completely separated once they reach mantle lengths of Template:Convert.<ref name="tolweb" /><ref name="lamprell"/>

Distribution and habitat

Ommastrephids usually occur in pelagic waters, but can also be found in neritic habitats.<ref name="tolweb" /> They are found worldwide.<ref name="fao"/><ref name="lamprell"/>

Taxonomy

Ommastrephidae was first established by the Danish zoologist Japetus Steenstrup in 1857. It is classified under the suborder Oegopsina of the order Teuthida (squids). It is divided into five subfamilies which are further subdivided into 11 genera and more than 20 species.

The following subfamilies, genera, and species are classified in the family Ommastrephidae: