112 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 234 



Abralia (Stenabralid) sparcki Grimpe, 1931 



Figures 24 and 25 

 Abralia sparcki Grimpe, 1931, p. 150. 



Material. — Holotype, 9, ML 47.0 mm., from "Amboina Bugten, 

 Kysten von Sawrude, de danske Exped. til Kei ^rne 1922. Grimpe 

 determ. Legit Dr. Th. Mortensen. 2, 1922." 19, ML 48.0 mm. 

 Bagacay Bay, Escarpada Id., Naranjon between Samar and Masbate; 

 U.S. Fish Comm. steamer Albatross, electric light, March 12, 1909. 



Description. — A single specimen of this interesting and poorly 

 known species was found in the National Museum collections. A 

 scrutiny of the literature indicated that it might be conspecific with 

 Grimpe's insufficiently described species. Thanks to the kindness of 

 Prof. Gunnar Thorson of the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, the 

 type was loaned to the author and the two specimens were found to 

 be in close agreement. 



The mantle is long and cylindrical, tapering in the posterior haK 

 to a smaU blunt point. The anterior margin is very slightly advanced 

 in the dorsal middle region and excavated ventrally beneath the 

 funnel with marginal acute angles. 



The fins are small and short with sharp lateral angles. The ante- 

 rior margins are slightly convex with free anterior lobes. The pos- 

 terior margins are concave and ai'e drawn out posteriorly to the 

 mantle point. 



The funnel is small, compact and deeply set into the head. The 

 funnel locking apparatus is simple, and enoploteuthid in structure. 

 The funnel organ is an inverted V shape with a low ridge on each 

 side near the apex. The ventral pads are small, oval and compact. 



The head is small and compact, about as wide as the mantle and 

 equipped with large eyes. The eyelids are transversely oval, straight 

 bordered posteriorly with small, distinct anterior sinuses. There are 

 four nuchal folds. The inner is a simple small semicircular flap. The 

 first lateral is small, distinct and bears the olfactory organ. The 

 third and fourth are prominent raised ridges which unite posteriorly 

 but do not form a semicircular outline. 



The gladius was not dissected out but shows as a broad dark ridge 

 beneath the sldn. 



The buccal membrane is eight lobed with eight supports. The 

 outer surface is pale in color with a few scattered reddish brown 

 chromatophores. 



The arms are short, slender and in the order 3.4.2.1. All of the 

 arms are bordered on each side by trabeculate protective membranes 

 which are deepest ventrally. I is keeled on the distal two thirds, 

 II on the distal haK, and III for the entire length. IV has a broad 



