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Norman, M. D. & C. C. Lu, 2000. Preliminary checklist of
the cephalopods of the South China Sea. Raffles Bull.
Zool., Suppl. 8: 539-567. of the South China Sea Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia C.
C. Lu
Abstract.ó Despite the high fisheries profile and value of octopuses, squids, cuttlefishes and their relatives throughout the South China Sea, there is relatively little known or published on this cephalopod fauna. This situation is the product of a few regional revisions, the large number of species being treated under single or inappropriate names, key families with poorly resolved taxonomies and inadequate diagnostic characters, and limited support (and develpoment of) regional expertise. A preliminary checklist of 31 families and 120 species of cephalopods are reported here form the South China Sea. This list is generated from a review of the available literature, material examined in museum collections and unpublished data of the authors. A preliminary list of incorrect, unresolved or questionable records of 70 nominal species from the region is also presented to redress some of the errors entrenched in the literature. There is an urgent need for comprehensive revision of this group throughout the region, including primary field surveys, reviews of subsistence and commercial fisheries catches, and support for development of regional expertise. |