Cephalopod Taxonomy Workshop

4th – 5th December, 2006

This workshop, presented by Dr Mark Norman and Dr Mandy Reid, dealt with the taxonomy and identification of octopuses, cuttlefishes and squid.  The content was:

Identifying cephalopods: where to start

  • Survey of participants needs
  • Types of material to be identified: live animals in the field, dead (fisheries) material, stomach contents
  • Key morphological characters: how they work
  • Terminology
  • Where to start with dissections

Session 1. The major groups

  • Recognising major cephalopod groups
  • Key characters for rough sorting into groups

Session 2. Octopuses

  • Distinguishing the major groups: benthic versus pelagic octopuses
  • Benthic octopuses
  • Key characters
  • Keys to genera
  • Species level characters
  • Examples
  • Practical use of keys with unidentified material

Session 3. Cuttlefishes

  • Distinguishing genera
  • Key characters
  • Keys to genera
  • Species level characters
  • Examples
  • Practical use of keys with unidentified material

Session 4. Squid

  • Distinguishing the major groups: myopsid, oegopsid, sepioid
  • Key characters
  • Keys to genera/subgenera
  • Species level characters
  • Examples
  • Practical use of keys with unidentified material