Volume 19 • Number 3 • 2003 - the Marine Advanced Technology ...

THE JOURNAL OF MARINE EDUCATION
Volume 19 • Number 3 • 2003
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this exercise is to solve the classification
puzzles involving two animals. Both live in the area of
Monterey Bay, California. The first is a deep ocean member of
the molluscs that is either an octopus or a squid. The second
is a reptile that lives in the coastal sand dunes and is either a
lizard or a snake.
ACTIVITY
A. The Octopus/Squid whose binomial is Vampyroteuthis
infernalis is found in deep ocean water that is low in
oxygen. Very few have been brought up to the ocean
surface and survived. Recently the biologists from MBARI
(Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) brought one
up live from deep in the Monterey Submarine Canyon
and were able to study it in a special aquarium.
Characteristics for the Squid (decapods) and Octopuses
(octopods) are:
Squid (Decapods): have eight arms with suckers and two
tentacles which are longer, elongated bodies and a
pair of fins, funnel for locomotion.
Octopuses (Octopods): have eight webbed arms that have
rows of suckers, soft bodies, funnel for locomotion.
A. Which two criteria would you use to put Vampyroteuthis in
with the squid?
B. Which two criteria would you use to put Vampyroteuthis in
with the octopuses?
C. Which two criteria would you use to put Vampyroteuthis in
its own special group?
D.Which category is the best fit? A, B, or C
Why? Give three reasons.
1.
2.
3.
___
B. The second taxonomic puzzle involves a reptile (Anniella
pulchra) that burrows in the coastal sand dunes that
surround Monterey Bay. Anniella looks like a snake and
has some characteristics of lizards.
The characteristics they noticed were:
1. A length of 30 cm (12 in.).
2. Eight arms that are connected to form a tent-like web.
3. Two very large bright blue eyes.
4. Two fins that look like ears are located on the end farthest
from the arms.
5. Two long filaments that are much longer than the arms
and can be extended from pockets between the arms on
either side.
6. Each of the eight arms has a row of suckers and two rows
of cirri (soft, fingerlike projections).
7. A dark red body covered with photophores (light
producing spots).
8. When surprised it folded his web of arms back over its
body and used the cirri for protection.
9. The mouth in the center of webbed arms has a beak for
biting food.
10. Locomotion is by jet propulsion using its funnel to shoot
out water and by flapping the fins.
Characteristics of Anniella:
1. No legs.
2. A round body (it looks like a pencil) so that it can easily
burrow in the sand.
3. Moveable eye lids.
4. Small smooth scales, that give it a polished look, are all
over its body even along the belly.
5. The lower jaw fits snugly with the upper jaw.
6. A blunt tail so it can also burrow in the sand backwards.
7. A length of 12 to 16 cm (41/2 to 6 1/2 in).
8. The ability to detach its tail to escape predators.
9. A silvery, tan or black colored back with thin dark lines
running from nose to tail and a yellow belly.
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