Stauroteuthis

Stauroteuthis is a genus of deepwater cirrate octopus, a cephalopod mollusk. This is the only genus in the family Stauroteuthidae, and only three species have been described in this genus.

The organisms live below 700 m water depth; although sometimes found as deep as 4 km underwater, they generally live at a water depth of around 2 km. They do not possess a radula.

The stauroteuthids have the distinction of being one of the few bioluminescent octopuses; some of the muscle cells that control the suckers in most species have been replaced with photophores which are believed to fool prey by directing them towards the mouth.

Species

 * Stauroteuthis gilchristi (Robson, 1924): Known from two localities in the south Atlantic, and other southern ocean locations (Macquarie Island, and Kerguelen).
 * Stauroteuthis syrtensis Verrill, 1879: Widespread in the North Atlantic. The population size of S. syrtensis is unknown.
 * Stauroteuthis kengrahami Verhoeff, 2023: Known from a single specimen off eastern Australia.