arrow-finned squid vs Clawed enope squid

Illex oxygonius compared with Abraliopsis felis

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	arrow-finned squid	Clawed enope squid
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Mollusca (Mollusks)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class same	Cephalopoda (Cephalopods)	Cephalopoda (Cephalopods)
Order same	Oegopsida (Oegopsida)	Oegopsida (Oegopsida)
Family	Ommastrephidae	Enoploteuthidae
Genus	Illex	Abraliopsis
Species	Illex oxygonius	Abraliopsis felis

Evolutionary Relationship

arrow-finned squid and Clawed enope squid share a common ancestor at the Order level: Oegopsida. (Oegopsida)

Conservation Status

arrow-finned squid

LC — Least Concern

Clawed enope squid

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	arrow-finned squid	Clawed enope squid
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

arrow-finned squid

The Arrow-finned squid, Illex oxygonius, is a species. It is currently assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.

Clawed enope squid

The Clawed Enope Squid, Ancistrocheirus lesueurii, is a medium-sized oceanic squid in the family Ancistrocheiridae found in mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It is the sole species in its family, representing a phylogenetically isolated lineage of deep-sea squids. The species is characterized by powerful, hook-bearing tentacles used to capture prey, an adaptation reflected in its common name. The mantle is muscular and elongated, bearing lateral fins, and the arms bear suckers modified into sharp hooks in adults. Ancistrocheirus lesueurii performs diel vertical migrations, ascending toward the surface at night and retreating to deeper waters during daylight hours. It is a voracious predator of fish and other squids, and is in turn preyed upon by sperm whales, large pelagic fishes, and sharks. Bioluminescent photophores are present on the body and arms, likely functioning in counterillumination or signaling. As a mesopelagic species distributed throughout major ocean basins, the Clawed Enope Squid contributes significantly to vertical carbon transport in marine ecosystems, processing organic material from surface waters and redistributing it at depth. Population status is unknown; the species has not been assessed by IUCN. It is occasionally recovered in the stomach contents of top predators and from deep-sea trawl surveys.