Megaleledonidae is a family of octopuses in the superfamily Octopodoidea. It was formerly placed in the family Octopodidae sensu lato as the subfamily Megaleledoninae but more recent studies have raised this taxon as a valid family.[1] Megaleledonidae contains about 43 species.
| Megaleledonidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Graneledone boreopacifica | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Superfamily: | Octopodoidea |
| Family: | Megaleledonidae Taki, 1961 |
| Type genus | |
| Megaleledone Taki, 1961
| |
Reproduction
Megaleledonidae are known to produce both fewer and larger offspring than octopods that live in more tropical climates. The eggs produced by Megaleldonidae are typically large with very slow embryonic development that can take up the majority of their lifecycle including from months to years.[2]
Genera
The following genera are included within the family Megaleledonidae:[1]
- Adelieledone Allcock, Hochberg, Rodhouse & Thorpe, 2003 (3 species)
- Bathypurpurata Vecchione, Allcock & Piatkowski, 2005 (monotypic)
- Bentheledone Robson, 1932 (2 species)
- Graneledone Joubin, 1918 (9 species)
- Megaleledone Iw. Taki, 1961 (monotypic)
- Microeledone Norman, Hochberg & Boucher-Rodoni, 2004 (monotypic)
- Pareledone Robson, 1932 (16 species)
- Praealtus Allcock, Collins, Piatkowski & Vecchione, 2004 (monotypic)
- Tetracheledone Voss, 1955 (monotypic)
- Thaumeledone Robson, 1930 (6 species)
- Velodona Chun, 1915 (monotypic)
- Vosseledone Palacio, 1978 (monotypic)
References
- ^ a b Phillipe Bouchet (2015). "Megaleledonidae Taki, 1961". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Schwarz, R.; Hoving, H.-J; Noever, C.; Piatkowski, U. (11 July 2019). "Life histories of Antarctic incirrate octopods (Cephalopoda: Octopoda)". PLOS ONE. 14 (7): e0219694. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219694. PMC 6622534. PMID 31295339.