Octopus hongkongensis

Hab. The Hyalonema- ground south of Japan, 345 fathoms (Station 232). One specimen, ♂.

The Body is rounded, with a median ventral furrow, and depressed (? from pressure). The ' mantle-opening is slightly less than half the circumference, and terminates midway be ­ tween the siphon and the eye, and a little behind the latter. The siphon is comparatively short and conical, and extends one third the distance to the umbrella-margin. The Head is comparatively broad, almost as broad as the body, and the eyes appear to have been prominent. The Anns are unequal, the ventral considerably shorter than the dorsal and dorso-lateral, on an average six times as long as the body, stout and tapering very rapidly towards the ends. The umbrella reaches up one fifth of the length of the dorsal arms, and is a little wider between the lateral and a little narrower between the ventral arms. The suckers are not closely packed and not enlarged on the dorsal arms, notwithstanding the sex of the specimen. The hectocotylized arm is very short, but the modified extremity is long and narrow, with parallel sides tapering only at the extremity to a blunt point; a narrow fillet runs between the two marginal ridges. The Surface of the body is sprinkled dorsally with minute hemispherical warts, which become smaller and gradually disappear on the sides and lower surface; they are also found on the dorsal surface of the head and of the umbrella. Above each pupil stands a small cirrus, immediately behind which is a larger one. The Colour is a dull red on the dorsal surface, lighter and brighter below, sprinkled with dull reddish-brown dots.