Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body (mantle) cylindrical, long, slender, tip pointed, males more slender with longer fins than females; lateral fins longer than wide, not exceeding 50% of mantle length, (if mantle length >12 cm (4 3/4 in), fins may be up to 50% or slightly greater than mantle length); outer edges at a blunt angle (not rounded), sides nearly straight; eyes nearly lateral; has a funnel behind the eyes; 8 short arms (shorter than mantle length) with sucker on the undersides extending the length of the arms; 2 longer tentacles with suckers only on the ends, ends spatulate shaped; mouth with beak-like teeth; color translucent with many purple-red pigment cells (chromatophores) on entire body; the internal pen has a vane width/rachis width ratio of 2.4 or less, edges are usually straight, and usually has ridges. |
Similar Species |
The arrow squid is more slender and firm than the brief squid, its mantle tip is hard and pointed; its fins are long and rhomboidal shaped, it usually more chromatophores than the brief squid; It is not as slender with shorter fins (usually <50% of mantle length) than the longfin inshore squid; its pen is narrower at the vane usually with straight edges and usually with ridges; the pen of the longfin inshore squid is wider usually with curved edges and usually has no ridges. |
Habitat |
Gulf, pelagic |
Maximum Size |
40 cm (15 3/4 in) mantle length |
Other Common Names |
slender inshore squid |
Previous Scientific Names |
Loligo pleii, Doryteuthis pleii |
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