Opisthoteuthis chathamensis, commonly known as the roughy umbrella octopus,[2] is a species of cirrate octopus restricted to demersal habitats surrounding the Chatham Rise in New Zealand.[3]
Distribution, description & threats
Chatham Rise, the type locality of O. chathamensis
Specimens have been recorded solely on soft sediments from 900–1438 meters deep.[4][5] The type locality of O. chathamensis is near the Chatham Islands at 44°44'S, 77°15'W, 1180 m. The species is known only from this area of the Chatham Rise and off the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand.[6]O. chathamensis reaches a maximum length of 18 cm TL, and a mantle length of 5.4 cm.[5] They are described as having subequal arms with around 41-45 suckers in males and 45-55 suckers in females.[6] Their oral surface and the webbing between their tentacles is maroon and the suckers are a pale cream.[7]O. chathamensis is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to a 70% decrease in population size in recent years, and has not been seen since 1999, when it was a common bycatch species. In addition, their longevity, low fecundity and slow growth (especially embryonic development which lasts 1.4-2.6 years among other species in the genus) has made them particularly susceptible to population declines and slow recoveries.[4][8]
^Collins, Martin; Villanueva, Roger (2006-06-13), "Taxonomy, Ecology And Behaviour Of The Cirrate Octopods", Oceanography and Marine Biology, CRC Press, pp. 277–322, doi:10.1201/9781420006391.ch6 (inactive 2024-11-12), ISBN9780849370441{{citation}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
