6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 123 



Distribution. — Figure 1 shows the distribution of the genus 

 Valbyteuthis, which was recorded previously only from the type- 

 locality, 07°30'N, 79°19'W. The genus is now known to occur 

 throughout the Atlantic Ocean from about 25°S to 46°N and in the 

 Eastern Pacific Ocean from about 40°S to 35°N. The longitudinal 

 range is from 04°E to 120°W. We do not suggest that these are the 

 distributional limits of the genus. 



The distributional map refers to the genus Valbyteuthis and not 

 to V. danae. It is evident from our specimens that at least two 

 species occur other than V. danae, but formal recognition of them 

 must wait until further material becomes available. 



Discussion 



On the basis of the material available to us, it is possible to re- 

 evaluate the status of the Valbyteuthidae. Numerous characteristic 

 features are possessed by Valbyteuthis that clearly demand that its 

 familial ranking be submerged and that the genus be placed in the 

 Chiroteuthidae sensu stricto. The most important of these features 

 are discussed below. 



The connectives of the buccal membrane of Valbyteuthis are 

 attached to the dorsal sides of arms one and two and to the ventral 

 sides of arms three and four. The gladius consists of a long, narrow 

 rhachis and a vane that folds ventrally until the edges fuse in the 

 ventral midline to form a long, slender conus. These features align 

 Valbyteuthis with the Chiroteuthidae and a number of related families 

 (see Young and Roper, in press, for a more detailed discussion). 



The closely related families Mastigoteuthidae and Chiroteuthidae 

 possess distinctive funnel-mantle locking apparatuses. The funnel 

 components of these structures are oval and bear one or two protuber- 

 ances (tragus and antitragus) that give them an ear-shaped appear- 

 ance. This characteristic locking mechanism is not found in other 

 families. Joubin (1931) described and illustrated the locking ap- 

 paratus of Valbyteuthis as oval but without protuberances and stated 

 that it was not ear shaped. Our specimens, including those from the 

 type-locality, possess a well-developed antitragus on the posterior 

 wall of the funnel component. Although this differs from Chiro- 

 teuthis by lacking a tragus, it unquestionably falls within the chiro- 

 teuthid-mastigoteuthid pattern. Joubin's failure to observe this 

 structure is partly responsible for his incorrect systematic placement 

 of Valbyteuthis. 



Probably the most distinctive feature of Valbyteuthis that could 

 be used to substantiate its position in an independent family is the 

 peculiar structure of the tentacular clubs. These clubs are unlike 

 those found in any adult chiroteuthid. They are, however, nearly 



