Octopus nanus Adam 1973

Octopus nanus Adam, 1973

DIAGNOSIS.—Animals small (12–13 mm ML). Mantle rounded (MWI 66.7); neck faintly constricted; head broad (HWI 87.8); eyes large, prominent. Funnel moderately sized, funnel organ W-shaped. Arms short to moderate (ALI 69.6), arm formula variable; arms stout basally and tapering to narrow tips. Sucker size moderate (SIn 12.2), elevated; especially enlarged suckers absent in males. Right arm III of males hectocotylized (HALI 191.9), shorter than fellow (FAI 83.4); ligula small (LLI 9.7), pointed; calamus pointed, HASC 36–45. Web moderate (WDI 23.0), web formula C > B > D > A > E. Ink sac present; gill lamellae 5. Males with small penis (PLI ~15). Spermatophores small (SpLI 43–65). Radula with A3–4 seriation of rachidian. Surfaces of mantle, head, and aboral aspect of arms and web finely granular; single supraocular cirrus located over each eye. General color in preservation (alcohol) pale grey brown with some darker patches.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION.—Adam, 1973:42, figs. 28–32, pl. 1: figs. 1–3.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Red Sea: Cundabilu, 2–8 m (holotype); Landing Bay, Entedebir (= Andeber Deset, 15°42′N, 39°54′E), 2–8 m (paratype).

TYPES.—Holotype: TAU E62/2307, male, 13 mm ML, in alcohol, good condition.

Paratype: MRHB, male, 12 mm ML, not traced.

DISTRIBUTION.—Known positively only from the type localities.