Sandalops melancholicus
species of mollusc
Sandalops melancholicus, the sandal-eyed squid or melancholy cranch squid, is a small species of glass squid. It is known to reach a mantle length of 11 cm (4.3 in). It is distributed in the tropical and subtropical oceans around the world. It is the only species in the genus Sandalops but some authorities suggest that this may be a species complex rather than a monotypic genus.
Description
Sandalops melancholicus is a small squid which grows to a mantle length of 110mm. There are only suckers on the tentacular clubs with a further two series of suckers and pads on distal half of the stalk of the tentacles. It does not possess a funnel valve and the funnel organ has a distal pad and two large triangle shaped flaps. It has short, round fins with the posterior end of the gladius protruding between them. Like Liguriella, but not in any other Taoniinae, it has two contiguous photophores on its eye, a large one and a small one, and it does not have any photophores on its arms. The juveniles have tubular eyes, a feature shared with Taonius, and the broad vanes on the gladius are very distinctive, a useful characteristic for identifying Sandalops.
The public source identifies “Sandalops melancholicus” as species of mollusc. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Sandalops, melancholicus and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Sandalops melancholicus”, the useful work is to connect “species of mollusc” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 10, 2024. The linked authority identifier is Q3197648. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Sandalops melancholicus”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Sandalops melancholicus primary sources, Sandalops melancholicus archive and Sandalops research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Sandalops melancholicus”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Sandalops melancholicus” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.