Chestnut Octopus

Octopus conispadiceus (Sasaki, 1917)

DIAGNOSIS.—Animal large (to ∼1200 mm TL). Mantle saccular (MWI 80–98); neck indistinct; head moderate in width (HWI 50–65). Funnel organ VV-shaped, outer limbs shorter than median ones. Arms subequal, moderate in length (ALI 75–79). Suckers large in males (SIn 15), smaller in females; ASC 140–160 in males, 180–190 in females. Right arm III of males hectocotylized; ligula moderate to large (LLI 12–20), conical, narrow with deep groove; calamus distinct; hectocotylized arm with 52–58 suckers. Web shallow to moderately deep. Gill lamellae 11 to 12. Mature eggs exceptionally large, capsules to 28 mm long. Penis cylindrical, slightly curved, swollen in middle of diverticulum. Spermatophores moderate in length, (SpLI > 50). Radula with A3-4 seriation of rachidian. Body firm, muscular, with almost no sculpture, few scattered papillae when preserved, single supraocular papillae. Color in life pale grayish blue covered with numerous minute, brownish chromatophores and less numerous yellow chromatophores. Color in preservation (formalin) mauve, faintly and irregularly marbled dorsally.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION.—Sasaki, 1917:367, as Polypus conispadiceus.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Western North Pacific Ocean, Japan, Hokkaido, Sapporo, fish market.

TYPES.—Syntypes: ACS (not traced).

DISTRIBUTION.—Waters surrounding Hokkaido, Japan.