Teuthowenia
| Teuthowenia | |
|---|---|
| Teuthowenia megalops | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Family: | Cranchiidae |
| Subfamily: | Taoniinae |
| Genus: | Teuthowenia Chun, 1910 |
| Type species | |
| Cranchia (Owenia) megalops Prosch, 1849 | |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
Teuthowenia is a genus of glass squid in the subfamily Taoniinae. Members of this genus are characterized by their deep-sea habitat, clear bodies, and ability to engorge themselves with water to become larger when threatened. Each known species has a visible digestive gland, which serves a similar purpose as a stomach and liver.
The genus contains bioluminescent species.
It includes three species:
- Teuthowenia maculata (Leach, 1817) - found in the tropical waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
- Teuthowenia megalops (Prosch, 1849) - found in the subarctic, temperate, and (rarely) subtropical waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean.
- Teuthowenia pellucida (Chun, 1910) - found throughout the oceans of the southern hemisphere.