Graneledone gonzalezi sp. nov. (Mollusca: Cephalopoda): a new octopod from the Îles Kerguelen

Abstract

A new octopod species, Graneledone gonzalezi sp. nov., is described from 19 specimens collected off the northern Iles Kerguelen. This is a bathyal octopus which is characterized by: the absence of supra-ocular papillae, short arms, a long ligula without copulatory ridges, a narrow head, six filaments per outer demibranch and radula exhibiting no archaic traits, medium size oocytes and a low number of very long spermatophores. Graneledone gonzalezi is compared with its other congeneric species and found most closely resemble G. antarctica. The geographic and bathymetric distribution of G. gonzalezi is also discussed.