BATHYPELAGIC SQUID BATHYTEUTHIS 93 



advantageous in capturing and holdino- prey. Buccal lappets on an 

 exi)anded buccal membrane fit neatly between the bases of tlie arms, 

 and suckers on the lappets would provide an additional holding 

 mechanism. 



Finally, it is not certain that the glandular structure that Naef de- 

 scrilied in Ctenoptenj.v is the homologue of the accessory nidamental 

 glands of sepioids and myopsids. Naef perhaps realized this, for had 

 he been more certain he surely would have made a greater point of it. 



Therefore, based on the characters presently used to indicate familial 

 relationships, the Bathyteuthidae can l>e aligned with the relatively 

 small group of families that have simple, straight locking apparatuses 

 and buccal connectives attached to the dorsal side of arms IV. Within 

 this group it shares a chib tliat has (at least some) suckers in more than 

 fours rows with the Histioteuthidae, Psychroteuthidae, Neoteuthidae 

 and Architeuthidae; other similarities in the clubs, however, are 

 lacking. The Bathyteuthidae and Ctenopterygidae share a number of 

 features, e.g., suckers on the buccal lappets, more than two rows of 

 suckers on the arms, more than four on the clubs, and simple, straight 

 locking apparatuses, but they differ in the attachment of buccal con- 

 nectives to the fourth arms. This difference is basic and probably pi'e- 

 cludes a close relationship between the two families. 



