CEPHALOPODS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 21 



Description. — A small series of specimens undoubtedly referable 

 to this species is in the National Museum collections. The species 

 is widely distributed in the Indo-Malayan region. 



The mantle is short and stout, oval in outline, and widest at about 

 the midpoint. It is slightly pointed posteriorly and strongly flattened 

 dorsoventrally. The anterior margin is produced as a broad, round 

 triangular projection; ventrally it is slightly emarginated below the 

 funnel. 



The fins originate just posterior to the anterior margin of the 

 mantle and form an anterior lobe which projects beyond the margin. 

 They border the mantle on either side and are about one-fifth of the 

 mantle width. Posteriorly, they are separated by the end of the body. 



The funnel is large and stout and extends to the interbrachial area 

 of IV. The locking apparatus consists of a short curved teardrop- 

 shaped groove, rounded anteriorly and pointed posteriorly, and a 

 short ridge on the mantle which is highest in the middle. The funnel 

 organ is normal. The valve is large, rounded, and triangular. 



The head is large and somewhat flattened dorsoventrally. It 

 bears large eyes with conspicuous lower lids. The buccal membrane 

 is seven-pointed, each lappet bearing one or two small suckers. 

 Spermatophore pads were not seen. 



The arms are subequal, in the order 4.3.2.1 or 4.2.3.1. They are 

 stout at the base, I and II rounded. III slightly and IV strongly 

 flattened, and taper evenly to an attenuate point. All the arms are 

 keeled for their entire length and IV has a broad conspicuous swim- 

 ming membrane. There is a low interbrachial web between aU arms 

 except IV. The suckers are in four rows throughout, and are bordered 

 on each side by a low protective membrane. The arm suckers have 

 horny rings whose sides are vertical, the upper part formed by numer- 

 ous fused flattened teeth which give the margin a scalloped, palisaded 

 effect. 



The tentacles are long with stout stalks which bear expanded clubs, 

 bent somewhat upward. The club is bordered by a dorsal web which 

 originates at about the level of the proximal sucker. The suckers 

 are arranged in about six to eight rows; those of the two middle rows 

 are greatly enlarged for about seven series, those of the ventral median 

 row being larger than those of the dorsal row. The sucker rings are 

 formed in the same manner as those of the arms, the edge appearing 

 serrate. The suckers are bordered on each side by a low protective 

 membrane which, however, does not unite basally. 



The shell is slenderly elliptical, slightly pointed at each end but 

 blunter posteriorly. The outer cone is well developed and is bordered 

 by a thin chitinous rim. The breadth of the shell is greater than a 

 third of the length. The dorsal surface is convex posteriorly, flattened 



