| Promachoteuthis sloani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The third known specimen of P. sloani, collected during the summer 2009 cruise of the NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow [1] | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Family: | Promachoteuthidae |
| Genus: | Promachoteuthis |
| Species: | P. sloani |
| Binomial name | |
| Promachoteuthis sloani | |
Promachoteuthis sloani is a species of squid from the northern Atlantic Ocean. It was known from only three dead specimens until 2024 when a live specimen was observed and photographed in the Nazca Ridge. [2] Very little is understood of its biology. [1] P. sloani is characterised by several morphological features: nuchal fusion is absent between the head and mantle, the arms generally bear 3–4 series of suckers, and papillae are present on the tentacles. [3]
The holotype is an immature female of 58 mm mantle length (ML) in near-perfect condition. It was caught by R/V G.O. SARS in 2004 at 53°05′N36°46′W / 53.083°N 36.767°W . The paratype, an immature female, is larger at 102 mm ML. It was caught by R/V Walther Herwig in 1973 at 46°00′N15°49′W / 46.000°N 15.817°W . Both were trawled in nets that fished to depths greater than 2,650 m. [3]