Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Spiralia
Cladus: Lophotrochozoa
Phylum: Mollusca
Classis: Cephalopoda
Subclassis: Coleoidea
Cohors: Neocoleoidea
SuperOrdo: Decapodiformes
Ordo: Teuthida
SubOrdo: Oegopsina
Familia: Cranchiidae
Subfamilia: Taoniinae
Genus: Megalocranchia
Species: M. abyssicola – M. maxima – M. oceanica
Name
Megalocranchia Pfeffer, 1884
References
CephBase [1]
Megalocranchia is a genus of glass squids. It occurs circumglobally in tropical and subtropical waters.[2]
Description
Some members of the genus Megalocranchia can reach large sizes, up to 1800mm in the case of M. fisheri. Young paralarvae often resemble other members of the Cranchiidae, having transparent bodies to aid in camouflage. Where the internal organs cannot be made transparent, for example in the digestive system, visceral photophores can be found. These visceral photophores are unique to this genus within the family. The paralarvae also have a thick gelatinous dermis covering the mantle, which again is unique to the Megalocranchia within the family. This dermis also features patches of orange chromatophores in juvenile individuals.
References
Julian Finn (2016). "Megalocranchia Pfeffer, 1884". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
Voss N. A., S. J. Stephen & Zh. Dong 1992. Family Cranchiidae Prosch, 1849. Smithson. Contributions Zool. 513: 187-210.
Giant squid found in Cayman head to US museum. Cayman News Service, 22 October 2013.
Royal Caribbean helps transport giant squid to museum. Royal Caribbean Blog, 23 October 2013.
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