Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Opisthoteuthis chathamensis (Opisthoteuthis chathamensis), recorded as Critically Endangered
Opisthoteuthis chathamensis (Opisthoteuthis chathamensis). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Opisthoteuthis chathamensis

Opisthoteuthis chathamensis

Opisthoteuthis chathamensis is a cephalopod in the family Opisthoteuthidae (order Octopoda), recorded as Critically Endangered and tied to New Zealand.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Opisthoteuthis chathamensis
Recorded from
New Zealand
Taxonomy
Cephalopoda · Octopoda · Opisthoteuthidae · Opisthoteuthis

The cephalopod

Opisthoteuthis chathamensis reaches a maximum length of 18 cm (7.1 in) TL, and a mantle length of 5.4 cm (2.1 in).

Range and habitat

The type locality of O. Chathamensis is near the Chatham Islands at 44°44'S, 77°15'W, 1,180 m (3,870 ft), and was found more broadly around the Chatham Rise, off New Zealand, over a depth range of 900–1,438 metres (2,950–4,720 ft), living on soft sediments.. The species has also more recently been collected from Macquarie Island, to the South West of New Zealand. Opisthoteuthis chathamensis is a cirrate octopus found in demersal habitats surrounding the Chatham Rise in New Zealand and Macquarie Island (Australian Antarctic Territories).

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

In crisis

Opisthoteuthis chathamensis is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to a 70% decrease in population size in recent years, and has not been seen since 1999, when it was a common bycatch species. In addition, their longevity, low fecundity and slow growth (especially embryonic development that lasts 1.4-2.6 years among other species in the genus) has made them particularly susceptible to population declines and slow recoveries.

Opisthoteuthis chathamensis is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Opisthoteuthis chathamensis, Wikidata item Q1962701. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

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Axolotl

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Quick answers

What is Opisthoteuthis chathamensis?
Opisthoteuthis chathamensis is a cephalopod in the family Opisthoteuthidae (order Octopoda).
What is the conservation status of Opisthoteuthis chathamensis?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Opisthoteuthis chathamensis. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Opisthoteuthis chathamensis live?
The type locality of O. Chathamensis is near the Chatham Islands at 44°44'S, 77°15'W, 1,180 m (3,870 ft), and was found more broadly around the Chatham Rise, off New Zealand, over a depth range of 900–1,438 metres (2,950–4,720 ft), living on soft sediments..
Why is Opisthoteuthis chathamensis in crisis?
Opisthoteuthis chathamensis is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to a 70% decrease in population size in recent years, and has not been seen since 1999, when it was a common bycatch species.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Opisthoteuthis chathamensis?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Opisthoteuthis chathamensis a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.