page_title: Whip-lash squid
section_title: Species
hierarchical_section_title: Whip-lash squid / Species
context_page_description: The Mastigoteuthidae, also known as whip-lash squid, are a family of small deep-sea squid. Approximately 20 known species in six genera are represented, with members found in both the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zone of most oceans. Originally described by Verill in 1881, it was later lowered by Chun to a subfamily of the Chiroteuthidae. However, Roper et al. raised it back to the family level, and this has not been changed since. The taxonomy of this family is extremely unstable, and there have been at times one genus, two genera and four subgenera, two genera and several 'groups', five genera and one species with an uncertain placement, or six genera.
context_section_description: This family is taxonomically little understood, but there have many recent advances in its systematics. With many species represented by single, damaged, and juvenile specimens, this group is still creating controversy in the taxonomic community. Salcedo-Vargas and Okutani (1994) reclassified the family and eliminated the genus Echinoteuthis, added two subgenera, and reduced the number of species to eight. Three years later, after the careful examination of skin tubercles and photophores, Salcedo-Vargas eliminated his subgenera, and increased the number of species to 17 (Salcedo-Vargas, 1997).  
  According to the World Register of Marine Species the classification of the Mastigoteuthidae is:
  Genus Echinoteuthis Joubin, 1933 
  Echinoteuthis atlantica (Joubin, 1933)
  Echinoteuthis danae Joubin, 1933
  Echinoteuthis famelica (Berry, 1909)
  Genus Idioteuthis Sasaki, 1916
  Idioteuthis latipinna * Sasaki, 1916
  Idioteuthis cordiformis (Chun, 1908)
  Genus Magnoteuthis Salcedo-Vargas & Okutani, 1994
  Magnoteuthis magna (Joubin, 1913)
  Magnoteuthis microlucens (Young, Lindgren & Vecchione, 2008)
  Magnoteuthis osheai Braid & Bolstad, 2015
  Genus Mastigopsis Grimpe, 1922
  Mastigopsis hjorti  (Chun, 1913)
  Genus Mastigoteuthis
  Mastigoteuthis agassizii Verrill, 1881
  Mastigoteuthis dentata Hoyle, 1904
  Mastigoteuthis flammea Chun, 1908
  Mastigoteuthis glaukopis Chun, 1908
  Mastigoteuthis grimaldii (Joubin, 1895)
  Mastigoteuthis psychrophila Nesis, 1977
  Mastigoteuthis schmidti Degner, 1925
  Mastigoteuthis hastula * (Berry, 1920)
  Mastigoteuthis inermis * Rancurel, 1972
  Mastigoteuthis iselini * MacDonald & Clench, 1934
  Mastigoteuthis latipinna * (Sasaki, 1916)
  Mastigoteuthis okutanii * Salcedo-Vargas, 1997
  Mastigoteuthis tyroi * Salcedo-Vargas, 1997
  Genus Mastigotragus
  Mastigotragus pyrodes (Young, 1972)
  The taxa listed above with an asterisk (*) are taxon inquirendum and needs further study to determine if it is a valid taxon or a synonym.
  The validity of several species remains to be reviewed, and the placement of the species Mastigotragus pyrodes in a separate genus should be assessed with genetics.
caption: Mastigoteuthis glaukopis
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