Stauroteuthis is a genus of deepwater cirrate octopus, a cephalopod mollusk. This is the only genus in the family Stauroteuthidae, and only three species have been described in this genus.
The organisms live below water depth; although sometimes found as deep as underwater, they generally live at a water depth of around . They do not possess a radula.
The stauroteuthids have the distinction of being one of the few bioluminescent octopuses; some of the muscle cells that control the suckers in most species have been replaced with photophores which are believed to fool prey by directing them towards the mouth.
Species Stauroteuthis gilchristi (Robson, 1924): Known from two localities in the south Atlantic, and other southern ocean locations (Macquarie Island, and Kerguelen).Stauroteuthis gilchristi. Tree of Life web project. Stauroteuthis syrtensis Verrill, 1879: Widespread in the North Atlantic.Stauroteuthis syrtensis. Tree of Life web project. The population size of S. syrtensis is unknown.Stauroteuthis syrtensis Verrill, 1879. Encyclopedia of Life. Stauroteuthis kengrahami Verhoeff, 2023: Known from a single specimen off eastern Australia.
References
External links Tree of Life website gives information about the classification of cephalopod groups Stauroteuthidae discussion forum at TONMO.com