Amphioctopus

Taxobox
name = "Amphioctopus"


image_caption = Veined Octopus, "Amphioctopus marginatus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Cephalopoda
ordo = Octopoda
familia = Octopodidae
subfamilia = Octopodinae
genus = "Amphioctopus"
genus_authority = Fischer, 1882
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text
synonyms =
*"Schizoctopus"
Hoyle, 1886
*“Sub-group of "Octopus aegina"”
"sensu" Robson, 1929
*“"aegina" species group”
"sensu" Norman, 1993

"Amphioctopus" is a genus of octopuses comprising around 16 species.

Description

Members of the genus "Amphioctopus" reside in tropical and subtropical waters. These octopuses are found primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans but representatives can also be found in the Atlantic. They are characterized by arms that are about 2 or 3 times their mantle length with deep lateral webs and very shallow dorsal webs.Norman, M.D. & F.G. Hochberg (2005). The current state of octopus taxonomy. "Phuket Marine Biological Center Research Bulletin" 66: 127–154.] This genus can be further divided into two subgroups, one group with ocellate octopuses, the other with non-ocellate octopuses.Norman, M. (2003). "Cephalopods: A World Guide". Hackenheim, ConchBooks, p. 214.]

Taxonomic status

Historically, members of this genus were placed within the genus "Octopus", but recognized as forming a distinct group and referred to as the "Octopus aegina" species complex.Huffard, C.L. & F.G. Hochberg (2005). PDFlink| [http://www.cephdev.utmb.edu/refdb/pdf/8087.pdf Description of a new species of the genus "Amphioctopus" (Mollusca: Octopodidae) from the Hawai'ian Islands.] "Molluscan Research" 25(3): 113–128.] The genus was originally described by Fischer in 1882. He assigned to it the already described species, "Octopus membranaceus" (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832), as the type species (not to be confused with "Enteroctopus membranaceus" (Rochebrune and Mabille, 1889), the original types species of the genus "Enteroctopus"). Robson in his review of octopus taxonomy in 1929 regarded "Amphioctopus membranaceus" as a "nomen dubium", referring it to his newly named "aegina" species complex", a group of octopuses forming a distinct constellation characterized by "Octopus aegina". The genus "Amphioctopus" was subsequently considered invalid. In 2002, Gleadall suggested that the "aegina" species group represents a distinct genus with "Amphioctopus" being the senior name. In 2004, Gleadall resurrected the genus "Schizoctopus" and assigned "Octopus fangsiao" as the type species.Gleadall, I.G. (2004). Some Old and New Genera of Octopus. "Interdisciplinary Information Sciences". 10(2): 99–112.] In 2005, Huffard and Hochberg, arguing that Robson's designation of "Octopus membranaceus" as a "nomen dubium" was premature and considering it a valid name, resurrected the genus name "Amphioctopus" for the "Octopus aegina" species complex. Huffard and Hochberg also found "Schizoctopus" to be a junior synonym for "Amphioctopus".

pecies

*"Amphioctopus aegina"
*"Amphioctopus arenicola"
*"Amphioctopus burryi"
*"Amphioctopus exannulatus"
*"Amphioctopus fangsiao"
*"Amphioctopus granulatus" *
*"Amphioctopus kagoshimensis"
*"Amphioctopus marginatus"
*"Amphioctopus membranaceus" *
*"Amphioctopus mototi"
*"Amphioctopus neglectus"
*"Amphioctopus polyzenia"
*"Amphioctopus rex"
*"Amphioctopus robsoni"
*"Amphioctopus siamensis"
*"Amphioctopus varunae"

Species marked with an asterisk (*) remain unresolved.

References