Md. Norman et Cc. Lu, REDESCRIPTION OF THE SOUTHERN DUMPLING SQUID EUPRYMNA-TASMANICA AND AREVISION OF THE GENUS EUPRYMNA (CEPHALOPODA, SEPIOLIDAE), Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 77(4), 1997, pp. 1109-1137
Recent attention to members of the sepiolid squid genus Euprymna and s
ymbiotic associations with luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri strai
ns) has prompted a review of this poorly-resolved group of squids. Twe
lve nominal species have been placed in this genus of which the majori
ty are ill-defined, known only from their original descriptions and se
parated on the basis of inadequate characters. As a first step in reso
lving this group, a temperate Australian species, the Southern dumplin
g squid, Euprymna tasmanica, is here redescribed in detail. As the gen
us Euprymna currently stands, most members are only distinguished on t
he number and position of enlarged suckers in mature males. No diagnos
tic characters are available to identify females. All nominal species
placed in this genus are reviewed and a key to proposed valid species
is presented. Six species are considered here to be valid: Euprymna be
rryi,E. hoylei, E. morsel, E. scolopes, E. tasmanica and an undescribe
d species treated here as Euprymna sp. 1. Euprymna similis is a synony
m of E. morsel of Japan. Due to inadequate original descriptions, and
lost or poor type material, two species are considered here to be nome
n dubia (E. schneehageni and E. pusilla), while the taxonomic status o
f four additional species remain unresolved (E. albatrossae, E. bursa,
E. phenax and E. stenodactyla).