Leach, 1817
Mantle as elongate balloon, posterior end subacute in adults. All mantle surface and upper side of fins covered with very numerous cartilaginous tubercles with multifid tips, formed in larvae at ML 4-5 mm. Four hyaline stripes on ventral mantle near mantle-funnel fusion, in the form of an inverted V, apparent in larvae at ML approx. 10-15 mm. Head may retract into mantle up to eyes. Eyes not stalked, even on larvae. Fins in larvae petaloid, in juveniles as a horizontal figure 8, short, longer and wider in adults but not extending beyond mantle end and not fused. Arms short. Tentacular stalks bear suckers along entire length in larvae, only on club in adults. Club with 4 rows of suckers. Tentacles not autotomized in adults. Funnel valve present. 14 round eye photophores: 6 in a ring around pupil, 7+1 in an arc on ventral side. Large elongated photophore on ends of all arms in maturing and mature females. In males right 4th arm hectocotylized and ends of 3rd arms modified (minute suckers in 4 rows). Light-colored. ML up to 15 cm.
Larvae easily distinguishable by cartilaginous tubercles. Outer and inner eyeball photophores developed in larvae at ML 15-17 and 10 mm, respectively.
One species in the World Ocean.