Bigfin squid
Bigfin squids are a group of rarely seen cephalopods with a distinctive morphology. They are placed in the genus Magnapinna and family Magnapinnidae. Although the family was described only from larval, paralarval, and juvenile specimens, numerous video observations of much larger squid with similar morphology are assumed to be adult specimens of the same family.
| Bigfin squids | |
|---|---|
| A bigfin squid filmed by DSV Alvin, possibly an adult Magnapinna sp. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Superfamily: | Chiroteuthoidea |
| Family: | Magnapinnidae Vecchione & Young, 1998 |
| Genus: | Magnapinna Vecchione & Young, 1998 |
| Type species | |
| Magnapinna pacifica Vecchione & Young, 1998 | |
| Species | |
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The arms and tentacles of the squid are both extremely long, estimated at 4 to 8 m (13 to 26 ft). These appendages are held perpendicular to the body, creating "elbows." How the squid feeds is yet to be discovered.
Magnapinna is thought to be the deepest-occurring squid genus, with sightings as deep as 6,212 metres (20,381 ft) below the surface, making it the only squid known to inhabit the hadal zone.