A New Species of Luteuthis (Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Octopoda: Cirrata) from the South China Sea
Steve O'Shea and Chung Cheng Lu (2002) Luteuthis shuishi sp. nov., the 2nd known species in a recently described cirrate family and genus, Luteuthidae and Luteuthis, previously known from the southwestern Pacific, is described from the South China Sea. Pre-fixed (fresh) morphologies of this species, and of the type species of the genus L. dentatus O’Shea, 1999 are provided. The relationship between Luteuthis and Grimpoteuthis tuftsi Voss and Pearcy, 1990 is evaluated. We suggest that G. tuftsi be placed in the family Luteuthidae, but because of a lack of adequate comparative material, no formal action is taken to prescribe it to a new genus. Previous family and generic diagnoses are amended to take into account the increased species and associated anatomical diversity.
Keywords
Cirrates, Luteuthis, Grimpoteuthis, Opisthoteuthis, Systematics.
