Megaleledone
| Megaleledone | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Megaleledonidae |
| Genus: | Megaleledone Taki, 1961 |
| Species: | M. setebos
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| Binomial name | |
| Megaleledone setebos (Robson, 1932)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Megaleledone setebos, the giant Antarctic octopus, is a very large venomous octopus with a circum-Antarctic distribution. It grows to at least 28 cm in mantle length and 90 cm in total length.[1] M. setebos feeds by drilling small holes in large, shelled mollusks, and then injecting its toxic saliva. The venom even works at subfreezing temperatures.[2] Out of the known species of Antarctic octopods, Megaleledone setebos prefers to use its physical abilities over its venom to subdue prey, possibly because of its thicker skin and larger size. [3]
The first specimen was captured from Cape Evans on Ross Island during the British Antarctic ‘Terra Nova’ Expedition in 1911-12.[4] The specimen was subsequently described by A. L. Massy under the name Moschites sp.[5] In 1932, zoologist Guy Coburn Robson described it as Graneledone setebos.[6] This species was transferred to the genus Megaleledone and synonymised with Megaleledone senoi in a 2003 paper.[1]
Etymology
[edit]"Setebos" is believed to refer to the god mentioned in Shakespeare's play The Tempest, or the poem Caliban upon Setebos by Robert Browning, which contains the lines "Careth but for Setebos / The many-handed as a cuttle-fish'".[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Allcock, A.L.; Hochberg, F.G. & Stranks, T.N. (2003). "Re-evaluation of Graneledone setebos (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) and allocation to the genus Megaleledone". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 83 (2): 319–328. Bibcode:2003JMBUK..83..319A. doi:10.1017/S0025315403007148h. S2CID 82256628.
- ^ "Antarctic octopuses found with cold-resistant venom". Reuters. July 22, 2010.
- ^ Undheim, E. A. B.; Georgieva, D. N.; Thoen, H. H.; Norman, J. A.; Mork, J.; Betzel, C.; Fry, B. G. (June 25, 2010). "Venom on ice: First insights into Antarctic octopus venoms". Toxicon. 56 (6): 897–913. Bibcode:2010Txcn...56..897U. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.06.013. PMID 20600223.
- ^ Harmer, S. F.; Lillie, D. G. (1914). "List of collecting stations. British Antarctic 'Terra Nova' Expedition, 1910". Zoology. 2: 1–12.
- ^ Massy, Anne L. (1916). "Mollusca, Part II. Cephalopoda: British Antarctic ("Terra Nova") Expedition". Zoology. II (7): 141–175.
- ^ Robson, G. C. (1932). "Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Part II. Octopoda (excluding Octopodinae)". British Museum (Natural History). London.
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