Note

Tentacle Absence in Cephalopods

Richard E. Young, Michael Vecchione, and Katharina M. Mangold (1922-2003)

Cephalopoda Glossary


The tentacles are permanently lost during the paralarval or early juvenile stages in some squids. After the tentacles have been lost (resorbed?) no trace remains. The picture below is of a squid that lacks tentacles. Note the position between arms III and IV where tentacles normally occur: no trace of tentacles remains. Many squids lose their tentacles during capture and a stump will remain. Many squids lose their tentacles at sexual maturity and a stump is usually present although sometimes only a scar is left.

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Figure. Oral view of the brachial crown of Taningia danae (Fam. Octopoteuthidae). Photograph by R. Young.

About This Page


University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA


National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , USA

Katharina M. Mangold (1922-2003)
Laboratoire Arago, Banyuls-Sur-Mer, France

Page: Tree of Life Tentacle Absence in Cephalopods Authored by Richard E. Young, Michael Vecchione, and Katharina M. Mangold (1922-2003). The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

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