Sandalops melancholicus

Chun, 1906

Mantle membranous, sac-like in larvae, in adults leathery and slimy, broadly cup- or barrel-shaped, rounded behind, mantle width 40-60% ML. Cartilaginous tubercles absent. Head small, in larvae with long "snout" (arm-crown pillar). Funnel large, covering arm bases. Eyes in larvae on long stalks, elongate, rostrate, slightly curved (slipper-like); in juveniles not stalked, cylindrical; in adults globular, directed anteriorly. Lanceola wide, diamond-shaped, flat in anterior half, bent roof-like and with longitudinal keel in posterior half. Fins in larvae paddle-shaped, in juveniles and adults semioval or kidney-shaped, attached to rear sides of lanceola, not reaching its tip, which protrudes between fins. Arms very short, with wide protective membranes. Suckers in 2 rows, small, smooth or weakly dentate. Tentacles in larvae and juveniles long, thin, in adults usually autotomized. Stalk in larvae with 2 rows of suckers. Central club suckers with small teeth. Medial component of funnel organ with central conical papilla and two wide triangular lateral flaps. No funnel valve.
Two eyeball photophores, a small oval one in the concavity of a large one. No arm photophores. All arms modified in males, bases wide, ends of 1st-3rd pairs narrow and tapering, suckers in basal parts of all arms enlarged, with reduced apertures. Squid almost colorless. ML up to 11 cm.
Larvae and juveniles distinguishable by elongate, and slightly curved eyes and shape of lanceola and fins.

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