Gonatus onyx
The Gonatus onyx is in the class Cephalopoda, in the phylum Mollusca. It is also known as the Clawed arm hook squid or the Black-eyed squid. It got these names from the characteristic black eye and from its two arms with clawed hooks on the end that extend a bit further than the other arms. It is a squid in the family Gonatidae, found most commonly in the northern Pacific Ocean from Japan to California. They are one of the most abundant cephalopods off the coast of California, mostly found at deeper depths, rising during the day most likely to feed.
| Clawed armhook squid | |
|---|---|
| Gonatus onyx on the Davidson Seamount at 1,328 m depth. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Family: | Gonatidae |
| Genus: | Gonatus |
| Species: | G. onyx |
| Binomial name | |
| Gonatus onyx Young, 1972 | |
The mantle size of the Gonatus Onyx has been known to reach up to 18cm. G. Onyx size varies from region to region, with larger members of the species being found in warmer areas.
The type specimen was collected off the coast of California and was deposited at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.