Joubin, 1931 (= Cucioteuthis unguiculata)
Mantle broadly conical, tapering into short tail. Fin in larvae transverse-oval (its width exceeding largely its length, equal to or longer than ML), in juveniles and adults diamond-shaped, barely short of anterior (but not posterior) mantle margin. Eyes in early larvae on short wide stalks, subsequently not stalked. Arms short, thick. Arm hooks appearing rather early (at ML >5 mm), and then suckers remaining only on very tips of arms. Tips of 2nd arms devoid of suckers, with one very large, complex photophore, whose central yellowish luminescent part may be covered by two black lobes ("lips"); no photophores on other arms. Tentacles in early larvae longer than arms, then shorter, with bunch of 8 rather large suckers on tip, club reduced at ML approx. 40-45 mm, but stems remaining until much later. Large unpaired photophore on ink sac, developed at ML approx. 5 mm. Gladius with parallel lateral sides. Easily distinguished by extremely wide fin and photophore on tips of 2nd arms developing at ML approx. 4.5-5 mm. A very large squid, ML up to 170 cm. The only species of the genus Taningia.