Helicocranchia pfefferi
{{Short description|Species of squid}}
{{Inline|date=March 2025}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Banded piglet squid
| status = DD
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| image = Helicopfefferidraw2.jpg
| image_caption = Ventral view of a specimen taken off Southern California (41 mm ML)
| taxon = Helicocranchia pfefferi
| display_parents = 3
| authority = Massy, 1907{{cite web | url = http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139424 | title = Helicocranchia pfefferi Massy, 1907 | accessdate = 1 March 2018 | publisher = Flanders Marine Institute | year = 2016 | author = Julian Finn | work = World Register of Marine Species}}
| synonyms = Helicocranchia beebei Robson, 1948
}}
Helicocranchia pfefferi, the banded piglet squid, is a small squid of the genus Helicocranchia. Adults of this species are mesopelagic.
Physical characteristics
The average size of adult H. pfefferi is {{convert|100|mm|in|abbr=on}} in mantle length (ML). The body consists of a large funnel with small paddle-like fins. They have small tentacles above their eyes. The funnel does not have valves, but contains a dorsal pad with three papillae as organs.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} Paddle-shaped fins are attached to a part of the gladius. H. pfefferi has a single ocular photophore and does not have photophores at its arm tips.
Habitat
H. pfefferi can be found in subtropical areas of the Atlantic Ocean.{{Cite web |last1=Bolstad |first1=K.S.R. |last2=Perez |first2=Jose Angel |last3=Strugnell |first3=J.M. |last4=Vidal |first4=Erica |date=February 26, 2014 |title=Cranchiids of the South Atlantic Mid-Oceanic Ridge: results from the first southern MAR-ECO expedition |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272002248 |website=Research Gate}} As paralarvae (<30 mm ML), they live near the surface of the oceans, between 100 m and 200 m deep. They descend to the mesopelagic zone as they mature, but exhibit a diel vertical migration pattern.{{cite journal |author=Lu, C.C. & M.R. Clarke |title=Vertical Distribution of Cephalopods at 11° N 20° W in the North Atlantic |journal=Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=369–389 |year=1975 |doi=10.1017/S0025315400016003|bibcode=1975JMBUK..55..369L |s2cid=250946620 }}
Prey
Its diet resembles that of most squid: fish, shrimp, and squid.
References
{{Reflist}}
- Young, R.E. & K.M. Mangold (1922-2003). 2006. [http://tolweb.org/Helicocranchia/19550 Helicocranchia Massy, 1907]. Version 16 July 2006 (under construction). In: The Tree of Life Web Project.
External links
{{Commons category|Helicocranchia pfefferi}}
{{CephBase Species|444}}
- [http://archive.serpentproject.com/160/ Images of Helicocranchia from the SERPENT Project]
- [http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/piglet-squid-into-abyss-lives-squid.html Blog post with much information]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2366378}}
{{Squid-stub}}