Diagnostic characters: Gelatinous
pelagic octopods, which grow to
large size. Body short, broad. Head wide;
the eyes are large and the short arms are
connected by a deep web. The funnel is
embedded in head tissue. Males are
much smaller than females but are relatively
large (ca. 30 cm total length) compared
with some other families of pelagic
octopods. Females of Haliphron
atlanticus (=Alloposus mollis) are very
large, reaching 40 cm mantle length or a
total length up to 2 m. Funnel locking apparatus
with lateral folds on the funnel and
corresponding grooves on the mantle.
Arm suckers mostly in 2 series but
grade to single series near mouth.
Hectocotylus with papillate lateral fringes
from base to spermatophore reservoir;
open spermatophore groove.Water pores
absent. Colour: not distinctive.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: The
hectocotylus develops in an inconspicuous
sac in front of the right eye which
gives the male the appearance of having
only 7 arms.The hectocotylus detaches at
mating. Females brood their eggs, which
are attached to the oral side of the arm
bases near the mouth.