Jewell squid
Histioteuthis meleagroteuthis
- Usual depth106–1,850 m
- Water temperature14–29 °C
- Best monthsApril and August
- How commonRare
About this species
Histioteuthis meleagroteuthis is a species of squid in the family Histioteuthidae, also known as pearly jewel squid. They are small to medium squids that have a dark, wine-red skin pigment. Females at maturity average at 114 mm (4.5 in) in length, while males at maturity average at 65 to 102 mm in length. This species is characterized by tubercles, photophores, and asymmetric features. This species can be found in circumglobal, mesopelagic waters.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Histioteuthis meleagroteuthis”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 7 records
- February: 4 records
- March: 7 records
- April: 29 records
- May: 4 records
- June: 14 records
- July: 5 records
- August: 19 records
- September: 6 records
- October: 3 records
- November: 8 records
- December: 6 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 106–1,850 m · Deepest record: 3,109 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 14–29 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Jewell squid, Pearly Cock-eyed Squid, Pearly Jewel Squid
Names in 2 more languages
- Japanese
- シラタマイカ
- Simplified Chinese
- Zhū-Jī-Fān-Yóu, 珠雞帆魷
Other scientific names: Calliteuthis meleagroteuthis, Histioteuthis bruuni, Meleagroteuthis separata
Similar species
- Jewel squid
Histioteuthis reversa
Bonnelli's jewel squidHistioteuthis bonnellii
- Deep-webbed Cock-eyed Squid
Histioteuthis macrohista
- Common Cock-eyed Squid
Histioteuthis miranda
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 150 open-data records from 1955 to 2015.
- Species data updated November 3, 2026.
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