Cirroteuthis kirrilyae
| Cirroteuthis kirrilyae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Cirroteuthidae |
| Genus: | Cirroteuthis |
| Species: | C. kirrilyae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cirroteuthis kirrilyae Verhoeff & O'Shea, 2025
| |
Cirroteuthis kirrilyae is a species of cirrate octopus in family Cirroteuthidae, previously confused with the closely related Cirroteuthis muelleri.[1] The species was described by T.J. Verhoeff and Steve O'Shea.
The species is known from specimens collected around Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, and is a pelagic or benthopelagic species known from a depth range of 1497-2581 m. The species may occur widely throughout the Pacific, with individuals possibly of this species observed by ROVs across the central and south-eastern Pacific. Specimens from off New Zealand were originally referred to as Cirroteuthis cf. muelleri, while material from the North-East Pacific (previously referred to C. muelleri) may also be this species, or represent further unknown taxa, given the apparent restriction of C. muelleri to the Arctic.[2]
Higher sucker counts, as well as differences in pigmentation seem to distinguish C. kirrilyae from C. muelleri, in addition to clear molecular differences.[2]
References
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Cirroteuthis kirrilyae Verhoeff & O'Shea, 2025". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ^ a b Verhoeff, Tristan Joseph; O'Shea, Steve (2025-03-14). "A new southern hemisphere species of Cirroteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata: Cirroteuthidae), and re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of Cirroteuthis hoylei Robson, 1932". Folia Malacologica. 33 (1). doi:10.12657/folmal.033.003.