CEPHALOPODS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. 30I 



Genus DOSIDICUS Steenstrup, 1857. 



Animals of large size, attaining a total length of several feet; general shape loliginiform ; arms 

 stout at the base, extremities very attenuate and bearing a large number of suckers very much reduced 

 in size; swimming membrane in general much reduced, its trabeculse persisting as stout, tentacle- 

 like processes from the margins of the arms. Other characteristics mainly as in Stkenoteuthis , which is 

 undoubtedly very nearly allied. 



But a single recent species is generally recognized. 



Type, Dosidicus Eschrichiii Steenstrup, 1857 {=Dosidicus gigas (d'Orbigny) Pfeffer), originally 

 described from the coast of Chile. 

 Dosidicus gigas (d'Orbigny, 1835) Pfeffer. (PI. XLvm-xux.) 



Ommaslrephes g\gas d'Orbigny, 1835, p. 50, pi. IV. 



Qiianteus d'Orbigny, in d'Orbigny and Ferussac, 1839, p. 350, pi. 20 (fide Hoyle). 

 d'Orbigny, 1845, p. 425. pi. 30. figs. 1-4. 

 Gray, 1849. p. 60 (after d'Orbigny). 

 Dosidicus Eschnchlii Steenstrup, 1857, p. 11 (fide Pfeffer). 

 Ommaslrephes gigantcus H. and A. Adams, 1858, p. 35 (name only). 

 Ommastrephes uiganteus Carpenter, 1S64. p. 613. 664 (name only). 



gigas Tri'on. 1879. p. 179. pi. 80, fig. 357-360 (after d'Orbiuny). 

 Dosidicus Esckrichtii Tryon, 1879. p. I7S- 



Steenstrup, 1880, p. 79. 80. 89. fig. (fide Hoyle) 

 Steenslrupii Pfeffer. 1884. p. 20, fig. 27. 

 Ommastrephes gigas Hoyle. 1886. p. 32. 214 (no description). 

 Dosidicus Eschrichiii Hoyle, 1886, p, 33. 217 (no description). 



Steenslrupii Hoyle. 1886. p. 34 (no description). 

 Ommastrephes gigas Hoyle, 1886a, p, 242 (38), (no description). 

 Dosidicus Eschrichiii Hoyle, iS86a. p. 244 (40), (no description). 



Steenslrupii Hoyle, 1886a, p, 244 (40), (no description), 

 Martialia Hyadesi Rochebnme and Mabille, 1S89, p. H9, pi. I (fide Pfeffer). 

 Ommatoslrephes gigas Yates, 1889, p. 178 (merely listed). 

 Ommaslrephes gigas Yates. 1890. p. 45 (merely listed). 

 Ommastrephes gigas Brazier. 1892, p. 16 (merely listed). 

 Martens, 1894, p, 234 (dimensions), 

 Plate, 1897, p. 213, 

 Ho^-lc, 1S97. p, 9 (merely listed), 

 Dosidicus giijas PfeCfer, 1900, p. i.?o. 



Steinhaus, 1903, pp, 44-4?. 

 Ommastrephes gigas Keep, 1904. p, 271, 351 (no description). 

 Kelsey, 1907. p, 46 (merely listed), 

 Dall, 1909. p. 195 (merely listed), 

 Dosidicus gigas Hoyle, 1909. p, 273 (no description). 

 Berry, 1910, p. 130 (no description). 

 Berry, 1911a, p. 304, fig. 1-4. pis, 20-21. 

 Animal very large, when adult attaining a length of several feet; robust and massive. Body loligini- 

 form, cylindrical in front, tapering to a fairly blimt point behind. Fins large, broadly sagittate. Mantle 

 margin truncate, entire all round; articulating with the body by an elongate cartilage in the nuchal 

 region and a large apparatus with a deep 1-shapcd groove on either side of the funnel, differing only in 

 slight detail from that already described for Sthcnotcuthis barlramii. 



Head small in proportion to the body and slightly narrower than the latter; squarish. Eyes large; 

 openings very large and conspicuous, with a deep anterior sinus. Below the head is deeply excavated 

 for the reception of the large and powerful funnel, the integument bordering the depression heavily 

 ridged and angled, Fimnel supported above at base of funnel groove by a pair of muscular bridles as 

 in Sthenoteuihis , etc, ; apex of groove with a very conspicuous foveola constructed as follows: The median 

 seven folds straight, massive, simple, pleat-like; next two broad, membranous, cur\-ing in'n'ard at base so 

 that they are evenly continuous posteriorly to form a horseshoe-shaped pouch ; outside this about five 

 smaller oblique folds on either side, likewise membranous, gradually diminishing in size, and forming 

 a series of small lateral pockets which arc not necessarily in exact correspondence on the two sides. The 

 funnel has a conspicuously large terminal valve (text fig, 9). 

 85079° — Bull, 30—12 20 



