dcsimg

Comprehensive Description

provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Octopus warringa Stranks, 1990

Octopus warringa Stranks, 1990b:457, fig. la-f.

Octopus sp. A, Stranks, 1988a:54, figs. 21–25.

DIAGNOSIS.—Animals small (to 125 mm TL; to 35 mm ML). Mantle broadly ovoid (MWI 56–81–107); head wide but narrower than mantle (HWI 41–66–82), demarked from mantle by moderate constriction; eyes large, projecting above surface of head. Funnel large, stout, bluntly tapered (FLI 33–42–57); funnel organ W-shaped, limbs thick, outer limbs length of median limbs. Arms moderately long (ALI 149–365), stout, tapering to narrow tips. Arm lengths subequal, arm order usually III > IV > II > I. Suckers raised above arm surface, of moderate size (SI 6–10–14), 6th to 10th suckers usually largest, enlarged on all arms of mature males and females. Right arm III of males hectocotylized, shorter than opposite arm (HAMI 149–206–273; OAI 67–78–86); ligula bulbous, wide, medium-sized (LLI 6–8–10); ligula groove well marked and deep, without transverse ridges; calamus short, acutely pointed (CLI 24–36–50); hectocotylized arm with 51–65 suckers. Web shallow (WDI 19–25–34), web formula usually C > B = D > A = E. Radula with B3–4 seriation of rachidian. Ink sac present. Gill lamellae 6–8 per outer demibranch. Mature female with small eggs (capsule 2–3 mm long, 1.0–1.5 mm wide), joined by long, twisted stalks, attached to substrate in festoons. Penis long (PLI 15–29–52), diverticulum coiled, with 3 lobes; spermatophores very long (SpLI 72–146–185), slender (SpWI 2.5–3.1–3.6), with large, coiled sperm reservoir (SpRI 29–32–36).

Integumental sculpture consists of pattern of fine, rounded, and closely set epidermal tubercles covering both dorsal and ventral surfaces. Branched and unbranched papillae present on dorsum. Papillae on mantle dorsum form ˜7 subparallel, longitudinal rows of 3 to 4 simple, usually unbranched papillae. Single large papilla forms posterior point on mantle. Large arborescent papilla obvious in supraocular region, surrounded by 3 to 4 smaller, usually unbranched papillae. Lateral integumentary ridge or fold around mantle circumference absent. Color of live animals unknown. Color of animals preserved in ethyl alcohol uniformly light brown to purple dorsally, cream to light brown ventrally. Ocelli absent.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION.—Stranks, 1990b:457, fig. la-f. See also Stranks, 1988a:54, figs. 21–25.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Australia, Tasmania, Maria Island, west of Darlington (42°35′S, 148°03′E), 30 m.

TYPE.—Holotype: NMV F57444, male, 17 mm ML. Specimen in good condition, preserved in ethyl alcohol.

DISTRIBUTION.—Restricted to temperate waters of southeastern Australia, from the Great Australian Bight to eastern Victoria, including Bass Strait and Tasmania. Also in New Zealand, including the North and South islands and Stewart Island. No geographic variation detected to date between the Australian and New Zealand populations of the species. An inshore species, living on rocky bottoms, or among sponges and polyzoans, at depths of 0–144 m.

The biology of O. warringa, including the morphology and brooding of eggs and hatching and behavior of juveniles, was described by Brough (1965) (under the name Robsonella australis). Several parasites have been recorded from this species (also under the name R. australis), namely dicyemid mesozoans (Dicyema robsonellae Short, 1971; Dicyemennea rostrata Short and Hochberg, 1969) and a digenetic trematode (Plagioporus maorum Allison, 1966).
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cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
bibliographic citation
Voss, N. A. and Sweeney, M. J. 1998. "Systematics and Biogeography of cephalopods. Volume II." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 277-599. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.586.277

Habitat

provided by World Register of Marine Species
shelf

Reference

van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).

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Jacob van der Land [email]