Octopus verrucosus Hoyle 1885

Octopus verrucosus Hoyle, 1885

DIAGNOSIS.—Animals medium-sized (to 80 mm ML). Mantle rounded (MWI 69); head narrower than mantle (HWI 50); eyes small (“but slightly prominent” Hoyle (1885a:222)). Funnel long, conical; funnel organ W-shaped. Arms moderate to long (ALI 80), distinctly unequal, arm formula II > III > I = IV. Suckers moderate in size (SIn 10), crowded; about 4 especially enlarged suckers present on arms II and III of males (SIe 23). Right arm III of males hectocotylized; ligula minute (LLI 0.8), acutely pointed, with median groove and 3 transverse ridges. Skin of dorsal surface of mantle and head and aboral surface of web covered with irregular, closely set warts of up to several mm in diameter in the nuchal region, larger warts in 2 lines along dorsum of mantle, smaller warts on ventrum; single supraocular cirrus. Color in preservation dull purplish grey, darker dorsally, ventrum considerably lighter.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION.—Hoyle, 1885a:222.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Central South Atlantic Ocean, Tristan d'Acunha, Inaccessible Island.

TYPES.—Syntypes: BMNH 1889.4.24.16, 2 males, 80 mm ML and ML undetermined.