178
MALCOLM R. CLARKE
more than 300 m of wire out). Issel (192513) recorded 18 young
specimens (0.2-0.65 cm long) which were all caught at 10-150 m.
They have been caught in fairly large numbers (up t o 176) in a single
haul (unpublished notes) and are therefore probably a shoaling species.
Development involves some change in form and several names have
been applied t o various ill-defined stages such as Nepioteuthion,
Micrabralia and Compsoteuthis. From specimens which are possibly
but not certainly this species, growth involves a relative shortening
of the arms, tentacles and head; the body becomes relatively broader
and then narrower and the fin becomes relatively longer and then
shorter (Fig. 32). Considerable changes in the arrangement of light
organs and in the club armature take place (Chun, 1910a; Naef, 1923;
Degner, 1925). Degner (1925) found very small specimens with mantle
lengths of less than 0.4 cm in February, June, July, August, and December so that spawning is probably not limited to a particular period of the
year. The left ventral arm becomes hectocotylized a t mantle lengths of
between 2.0 and 2.6 cm and a male of 2.65 cm mantle length had
spermatophores in the penis (Voss, 1960a). A female with a mantle
length of 3.8 cm was ripe (Chun, 1910a) and this is the largest female
recorded, the largest male having a mantle length of 2.65 cm (Voss,
1960a).
They feed on copepods and euphausids which they follow in shoals
to near the water surface (Akimushkin, 1963).
This species has been taken from the stomachs of a dolphin (VBrany,
1837), Alepisaurus ferox (Rees and Maul, 1956) and Coloconger raniceps
Alcock (Chun, 1910a).
6. Abraliopsis neozealundica (Dell, 1959)
Enoploteuthis neozeahndicu Dell, 1959b
This species is only known from the east coast of Wellington,
New Zealand (Dell, 1959b). It was caught with an'open net a t 90 m,
and is a male with the right ventral arm hectocotylized and a mantle
length of 3.7 cm. G. L. Voss (see Roper, 1966) considers that this is
a synonym of A . gilchristi (Robson, 1924).
7. Abraliopsis pfefferi Joubin, 1896
Abralia (Abralia) Pfefferi Pfeffer, 1912
A North Atlantic species, this has been taken at Villefranche-surmer (Joubin, 1896c) at 36' 05" 9"OO' W (Joubin, 1920) 31' 45" 20'17'W
and 30' 45"
25"47'W (Joubin, 1924). It was taken with open nets
fished between 3 660 m, 3 000 m and 1 000 m and the surface, The
largest caught had a mantle length of 4.2 cm.
MALCOLM R. CLARKE
more than 300 m of wire out). Issel (192513) recorded 18 young
specimens (0.2-0.65 cm long) which were all caught at 10-150 m.
They have been caught in fairly large numbers (up t o 176) in a single
haul (unpublished notes) and are therefore probably a shoaling species.
Development involves some change in form and several names have
been applied t o various ill-defined stages such as Nepioteuthion,
Micrabralia and Compsoteuthis. From specimens which are possibly
but not certainly this species, growth involves a relative shortening
of the arms, tentacles and head; the body becomes relatively broader
and then narrower and the fin becomes relatively longer and then
shorter (Fig. 32). Considerable changes in the arrangement of light
organs and in the club armature take place (Chun, 1910a; Naef, 1923;
Degner, 1925). Degner (1925) found very small specimens with mantle
lengths of less than 0.4 cm in February, June, July, August, and December so that spawning is probably not limited to a particular period of the
year. The left ventral arm becomes hectocotylized a t mantle lengths of
between 2.0 and 2.6 cm and a male of 2.65 cm mantle length had
spermatophores in the penis (Voss, 1960a). A female with a mantle
length of 3.8 cm was ripe (Chun, 1910a) and this is the largest female
recorded, the largest male having a mantle length of 2.65 cm (Voss,
1960a).
They feed on copepods and euphausids which they follow in shoals
to near the water surface (Akimushkin, 1963).
This species has been taken from the stomachs of a dolphin (VBrany,
1837), Alepisaurus ferox (Rees and Maul, 1956) and Coloconger raniceps
Alcock (Chun, 1910a).
6. Abraliopsis neozealundica (Dell, 1959)
Enoploteuthis neozeahndicu Dell, 1959b
This species is only known from the east coast of Wellington,
New Zealand (Dell, 1959b). It was caught with an'open net a t 90 m,
and is a male with the right ventral arm hectocotylized and a mantle
length of 3.7 cm. G. L. Voss (see Roper, 1966) considers that this is
a synonym of A . gilchristi (Robson, 1924).
7. Abraliopsis pfefferi Joubin, 1896
Abralia (Abralia) Pfefferi Pfeffer, 1912
A North Atlantic species, this has been taken at Villefranche-surmer (Joubin, 1896c) at 36' 05" 9"OO' W (Joubin, 1920) 31' 45" 20'17'W
and 30' 45"
25"47'W (Joubin, 1924). It was taken with open nets
fished between 3 660 m, 3 000 m and 1 000 m and the surface, The
largest caught had a mantle length of 4.2 cm.