174
MALCOLM R. CLARKE
Enoploteuthis owenii Gray, 1949
Onychoteuthis (Enoploteuthis) owenii VBrany, 1951
This is the most well known Abralia species having been caught a
number of times in the western Mediterranean: at Messina (Riippell,
1844; Pfeffer, 1912; Grimpe, 1931), Nice (VBrany, 1851; Pfeffer, 1912),
Toulon, (Pfeffer, 1912), Naples (Naef, 1923), Genoa (Gray, 1849) and
possibly off Sardinia (Issel, 1925b). From the North Atlantic it has
been taken off Madeira (Berry, 1926), off Cuba (Voss, 1955), in the
Gulf of Mexico (Voss, 1956b), off Florida (Voss, 1956a) and off San
Salvadore (Adam, 1941a). I n the South Atlantic it is very common on
the continental slope of tropical Africa (Adam, 1952). It has been
taken between the surface and 550 m (Adam, 1952, 1962; Vow, 1966,
1956b). Off tropical Africa it was found in water between 8.65" and
15.40"C and in salinities of 34.87 and 38-33%, (2 surface temperatures
and salinities) (Adam, 1952). With 167 specimens taken thoughout
the year a t his disposal, Adam (1952) was unable to find evidence for
a limited spawning period but Berry (1926) concluded that the annual
summer migration into Funchal harbour was probably for spawning
or mating. The left ventral arm is hectocotylized and spermatophores
are attached to the female within the mantle cavity behind the nuchal
cartilage (Berry, 1926; Adam, 1952). It has been recorded from the
stomachs of Etmopterus hillianus (Poey ) and Chlorophthalmus agassizi
Bonaparte (Adam, 1952).
B. Abraliopsis
Of the six species only A . morrisi is a t all well known.
1. Abraliopsis aginis (Pfeffer, 1912)
Abralia (Micrabralia) afinis Pfeffer, 1912
Abraliopsis Hoylei Hoyle, 1904b
This species has been taken a t four positions between Cape San
Francisco and Acapulco on the western side of Central America,
(Hoyle, 1904b; Pfeffer, 1912) (Fig. 31). It was taken between 5503 470 m with open nets. There is slight sexual dimorphism in the arm,
there being papillae on the oral surfaces in the male (Pfeffer, 1912).
2. Abraliopsis gilchristi (Robson, 1924)
Abralia gilchristi Robson, 1924a
Two males were taken off South Africa a t depths of 440 m and
570 m with open nets. Robson considered that both are mature to
judge from their proportions. One has a mantle length of 4.0 cm and
MALCOLM R. CLARKE
Enoploteuthis owenii Gray, 1949
Onychoteuthis (Enoploteuthis) owenii VBrany, 1951
This is the most well known Abralia species having been caught a
number of times in the western Mediterranean: at Messina (Riippell,
1844; Pfeffer, 1912; Grimpe, 1931), Nice (VBrany, 1851; Pfeffer, 1912),
Toulon, (Pfeffer, 1912), Naples (Naef, 1923), Genoa (Gray, 1849) and
possibly off Sardinia (Issel, 1925b). From the North Atlantic it has
been taken off Madeira (Berry, 1926), off Cuba (Voss, 1955), in the
Gulf of Mexico (Voss, 1956b), off Florida (Voss, 1956a) and off San
Salvadore (Adam, 1941a). I n the South Atlantic it is very common on
the continental slope of tropical Africa (Adam, 1952). It has been
taken between the surface and 550 m (Adam, 1952, 1962; Vow, 1966,
1956b). Off tropical Africa it was found in water between 8.65" and
15.40"C and in salinities of 34.87 and 38-33%, (2 surface temperatures
and salinities) (Adam, 1952). With 167 specimens taken thoughout
the year a t his disposal, Adam (1952) was unable to find evidence for
a limited spawning period but Berry (1926) concluded that the annual
summer migration into Funchal harbour was probably for spawning
or mating. The left ventral arm is hectocotylized and spermatophores
are attached to the female within the mantle cavity behind the nuchal
cartilage (Berry, 1926; Adam, 1952). It has been recorded from the
stomachs of Etmopterus hillianus (Poey ) and Chlorophthalmus agassizi
Bonaparte (Adam, 1952).
B. Abraliopsis
Of the six species only A . morrisi is a t all well known.
1. Abraliopsis aginis (Pfeffer, 1912)
Abralia (Micrabralia) afinis Pfeffer, 1912
Abraliopsis Hoylei Hoyle, 1904b
This species has been taken a t four positions between Cape San
Francisco and Acapulco on the western side of Central America,
(Hoyle, 1904b; Pfeffer, 1912) (Fig. 31). It was taken between 5503 470 m with open nets. There is slight sexual dimorphism in the arm,
there being papillae on the oral surfaces in the male (Pfeffer, 1912).
2. Abraliopsis gilchristi (Robson, 1924)
Abralia gilchristi Robson, 1924a
Two males were taken off South Africa a t depths of 440 m and
570 m with open nets. Robson considered that both are mature to
judge from their proportions. One has a mantle length of 4.0 cm and