Zoology - Theses

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Systematics of the family Octopodidae (Mollusca:Cephalopoda) of South-Eastern Australia

Stranks, Timothy Nathaniel ( 1988)

The systematic of the inshore, benthic octopus of south-eastern Australia are examined. An historical survey of octopods from the region is followed by accounts of nominal species now recorded from waters of south-eastern Australia. Three genera and nine species are described and illustrated: Octopus australis, O. maorum, O. pallidus, O. superciliosus, Hapalochlaena maculosa, Grimpella thaumastocheir, plus three species of Octopus new to science. For each species, a study of external morphology and internal anatomy, type details, and distributional information, are included. Two species previously described from south-eastern Australia are reduced to synonymy: Octopus flindersi and O. duplex. Three species previously recorded from the region are excluded from the fauna: O.filamentosus, O. membranaceus and O. microphthalmus. A key to identification of valid species of octopus from south-eastern Australia is provided. The octopod fauna of the region comprises a high proportion of endemic species. Information on biogeography, and on affinities of some taxa with the fauna of New Zealand, is outlined.