Scientific name Psychroteuthis glacialis Higher classification Psychroteuthis Order Squid | Suborder Oegopsina Rank Species Subclass Coleoidea | |
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Family PsychroteuthidaeThiele, 1920 Genus PsychroteuthisThiele, 1920 Similar Squid, Kondakovia longimana, Hooked squid, Gonatus antarcticus, Cycloteuthidae | ||
Psychroteuthis glacialis, the glacial squid, is the only known species in the monotypic genus Psychroteuthis, in the family Psychroteuthidae. While only one species has been confirmed, two undescribed species also probably exist. The species occurs in coastal waters near Antarctica and South America. It grows to a mantle length of 44 cm.
Ecology
P. glacialis is known to feed on many crustaceans, fish, lanternfish, Antarctic krill, and Antarctic silverfish, and has been known to practice cannibalism. Animals known to routinely feed on glacial squid include the Antarctic petrel, light-mantled sooty albatross, Ross seal, southern elephant seal, Weddell seal, Patagonian toothfish, wandering albatross, grey-headed albatross, and the emperor penguin.
References
Psychroteuthis glacialis Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA