Introduction
Females of Haliphron (= Alloposus) atlanticus are very large, reaching 400 mm ML or a total length up to 2m (Nesis, 1982). Body tissues are gelatinous; the mantle is short and broad and the head wide; the eyes are large and the short arms have a deep web. The funnel is embedded in head tissue. Males are much smaller than females but are relatively large (ca. 300 mm total length) for an argonautoid. The hectocotylus develops in an inconspicuous sac in front of the right eye which gives the male the appearance of having only seven arms (see below). The hectocotylus detaches at mating. Females brood their eggs, which are attached to the oral side of the arm bases near the mouth (Young, 1995).
Characteristics
Head
Beaks: Descriptions can be found here: Lower beak; upper beak.
Arms
Suckers mostly in two series but grade to single series near mouth.
Hectocotylus with papillate lateral fringes from base to spermatophore reservoir; open spermatophore groove.
Extensive web between all arms.