Filippovia knipovitchi (Filippova 1972)

Moroteuthis knipovitchi Filippova, 1972

DIAGNOSIS.—Adult moderately large (450 mm ML), skin with smooth-textured surface. Mantle relatively broad and stout, not pointed into tail. Fins large and rhomboidal, about 50%–60% ML. Gladius with terminal cartilaginous conus, conus triangular in cross section. Tentacle club long and slender, with 12 or 13 suckers on carpus, manus with 10–15 pairs of long, narrow hooks, ventral row hooks larger than dorsal row hooks, and with 14–16 minute suckers on dactylus. Longest arms (II) approximately 90% ML.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION.—Filippova, 1972:392, figs. 2, 3.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Near South Georgia Island, R/V Academician Knipovitch sta 176, 3 Mar 1965, trawling depth 400–550 m.

DEPOSITION OF TYPE.—Holotype: Female, 225 mm ML; Zoological Museum, Moscow University, Moscow, Russia.

Paratypes: None.

DISTRIBUTION.—Antarctic, south of the Antarctic convergence in the Scotia Sea, Argentine Basin, and Drake passage, possibly circumpolar (Clarke, 1980; Nesis, 1987).

Filippovia knipovitchi, the smooth hooked squid, is a species of squid in the family Onychoteuthidae and the sole member of the genus Filippovia. It is found in the Antarctic and Atlantic Oceans, and reaches a mantle length of 35 cm.