Octopus levis, Gunther & Dallas & Carruthers & Francis, 1885

Gunther, Albert C. L. G., Dallas, William S., Carruthers, William & Francis, William, 1885, The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology, Reptiles and Batrachians from Brazil, LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.; KENT AND CO.,; WHITT AKER AND CO.: BAILLIERE, PARIS: MACLACHLAN AND STEWART, EDINBURGH: HODGES, FOSTER, AND CO., DUBLIN: AND ASHER, BERLIN: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, pp. 1-96 : 229

Octopus levis , n. sp.

The Body is oblong, depressed, and bulges a little at the sides; the mantle-opening extends about one third round the circumference, terminating about midway between the siphon and the eye. The siphon is short and small, extending scarcely one third the distance to the umbrella-margin.

The Head is almost as broad as the body, and the eyes are large, spheroidal, and prominent, with very small circular apertures.

The Arms are subequal and short compared with the body, being about three times its length; they taper gradually to moderately tine points. The umbrella is large, extending about one third up the arms. The suckers are small and prominent and arranged in two rows from the commencement; a narrow well-marked groove runs across the arm between each two suckers (possibly due to contraction). The hectocotylus is well developed, short, and tapering rapidly to a blunt point; the median groove has about ten transverse bars. The circumoral lip is unusually thick.

The Surface appears to have been perfectly smooth, but is now covered with wrinkles, due to the action of the spirit.

The Colour is a dull grey, inclining to stone-colour below.

Hab. Off Heard Island, Southern Ocean, 75 fathoms (Station 151). Four specimens, 1 ♂, 1 ♂ juv., 2 ♀ juv.