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Vampyromorphida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vampyromorphida
Temporal range: Jurassic–recent
Vampyroteuthis infernalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Superorder: Octopodiformes
Order: Vampyromorphida
Pickford, 1939
Suborders

?†Kelaenina
Prototeuthina
Mesoteuthina
Vampyromorphina

Synonyms
  • Vampyromorpha
    Grimpe, 1917

Vampyromorphida is an order of cephalopods comprising one known extant species (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) and many extinct taxa. Physically, they somewhat resemble octopuses (their closest relatives), but are often called vampire squids. Unlike octopuses, their eight arms are united by a web of skin, and two smaller cilia are also present.[1] Properly speaking, the vampire squid does not possess cilia, but cirri (cilia-like projections).[2] Unlike most cephalopods, which are high-energy hunters, the vampire squid has an extremely low metabolic rate. This adaptation means it requires less oxygen and its food lasts longer, helping it conserve energy and thrive in these harsh deep-sea conditions. Studies show its oxygen consumption is among the lowest of any cephalopod, allowing it to occupy a competition-free niche in the deep sea where few predators or competitors can follow, since not many can survive.[3]


Classification

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The following taxa were long considered to belong to Vampyromorphida, but this placement may be incorrect:[4]

References

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  1. ^ Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 461. ISBN 0-03-056747-5.
  2. ^ Hoving, Hendrik J. T.; Robison, Bruce H. (22 November 2012). "Vampire squid: detritivores in the oxygen minimum zone". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 279 (1747): 4559–4567. doi:10.1098/rspb.2012.1357. PMC 3479720. PMID 23015627.
  3. ^ Seibel, B. A., Thuesen, E. V., Childress, J. J., & Gorodezky, L. A. (1999). Decline in pelagic cephalopod metabolism with habitat depth reflects differences in locomotory efficiency. Biological Bulletin, 197(2), 207–225.
  4. ^ Fischer, Jean-Claude & Riou, Bernard (2002): Vampyronassa rhodanica nov. gen. nov sp., vampyromorphe (Cephalopoda, Coleoidea) du Callovien inférieur de la Voulte-sur-Rhône (Ardèche, France). Annales de Paléontologie 88(1) 1−17. [French with English abstract] doi:10.1016/S0753-3969(02)01037-6 (HTML abstract)