Eledonella pygmaea

Verrill, 1884

Eyes small, elliptical, widely separated, relative length decreasing gradually from 12-17% ML at ML <20 mm, to 11-14 % ML at ML 20-60 mm, and 7-11% ML at ML >60 mm. Lateral and ventral surfaces of eye covered by silvery reflecting layer. Optic nerves long (not less than brain width), optic ganglia far from brain (easily visible through transparent tissues). Mantle opening reaching level of pupil. Suckers not numerous, located far apart, distance between them one or two sucker diameters, small, diameter averaging 4% ML. Three suckers in middle part of 3rd right arm enlarged in adult males, one or two very large, urn-shaped. Hectocotylus present, the end of 3rd left arm modified in mature males. Maximum web depth approx. 50% of longest arm length. Funnel sunken into head tissues almost to opening, located under anterior eye margin. Digestive gland large, ovoid, covered by silvery reflecting tissue. Gills with 4-8 lamellae per demibranch (half of gill). Egg length approx. 2 mm. Color mostly red or reddish-brownish in juveniles, adults very lightly colored, almost transparent. ML up to 20-25 cm.
Larvae with narrow head, with widely separated (about 3 eye widths) small, elliptical eyes; arms short, subequal, with 4 suckers in early larvae; wide mantle and large ovoid digestive gland. Larvae almost totally covered by thick sticky jelly. Optic nerves visible even in the smallest larvae.

One species in the World Ocean.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)