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