Banded piglet squid

Helicocranchia pfefferi

''Helicocranchia pfefferi'', the banded piglet squid, is a small squid of the genus ''Helicocranchia''. Adults of this species are mesopelaegic.
Banded Piglet Squid (Helicocranchia pfefferi), Gulf of Mexico The “Banded Piglet Squid” or “”Pferrer’s Cranch Squid” (Helicocranchia pfefferi) is known for its characteristic behavior of arranging its tentacles and arms above ts siphon, creating the appearance of a pig… perhaps with dreds. It is believed that several cryptic species may be currently represented within this species. Males enact specific behaviors to attract females. Adult males and females die shortly after spawning and brooding young. All of this is part of the DEEPEND-RESTORE Project (www.deependconsortium.org). Banded piglet squid,Helicocranchia pfefferi,Life in the dark

Appearance

The average size of adult ''H. pfefferi'' is 100 mm in mantle length. 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. 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

As paralarvae (

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

Status: Data deficient
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionMollusca
ClassCephalopoda
OrderOegopsida
FamilyCranchiidae
GenusHelicocranchia
SpeciesH. pfefferi
Photographed in
United States of America