150 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 234 



Sea almost to the Pacific. The latter group came from depths of from 

 172 to 283 fathoms. The structure and shape of the larger specimens 

 suggests that they belong in life to the bathypelagic fauna and are 

 excellent swimmers as adults, probably leaving the more passive 

 planktonic stage at 50 to 60 mm. in mantle length. Although a 

 number of adults were at hand, no spermatophores were observed. 

 Distribution. — Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate seas. 



Subfamily Taoniinae 



Taonius pavo (LeSueur, 1821) 



Figure 33 



Loligo pavo LeSueur, 1821, p. 96. 

 Taonius -pavo, Steenstrup, 1861, p. 83. 



Material. — 1 9, ML 119.0 mm., Sta. D5511, Camp Overton 

 Light, Iligan Bay, northern Mindoro 750 m., Aug. 7, 1909; USNM 

 574887. 



Description. — This species is represented in the collection by a 

 single mutilated specimen from which the head is detached. How- 

 ever, it was possible to obtain nearly complete measurements and an 

 adequate description. 



The mantle is long and slender, widest slightly behind the anterior 

 margin. The mantle is slightly produced in the middorsal region and 

 emarginated below, between the points of permanent attachment on 

 either side of the funnel. Posteriorly the mantle is greatly elongate 

 and tapering, ending in an attenuate point. The gladius rib shows 

 through the mantle prominently. 



The fins are slender, occupying nearly 50 percent of the mantle 

 length. They have free anterior margins or lobes and gradually 

 expand to a moderate width, widest about a third of their length and 

 thence tapering with concave posterior borders to the attenuate tip. 



The funnel is prominent, permanently attached to the mantle on 

 either side, the fusion marked by a small slender oval hyahne band. 

 Unlike that of most squids, the funnel opening is not round but 

 strongly transverse. The funnel organ is composed of a small promi- 

 nent inverted V-shaped dorsal membrane with a round papilla at the 

 apex and two ventral pads. 



The head is large, a little wider than the mantle, and bears two 

 large, laterally projecting eyes. The head is strongly constricted 

 both above and below the eyes, and the latter have small eyelids. 

 Sasaki stated that there is a strong olfactory tubercle present on the 

 ventral part of each eye prominence, but these also are missing. 



