biology

Opisthoteuthis borealis

Opisthoteuthis borealis is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Opisthoteuthis borealis rather than just read about it. In short: Opisthoteuthis borealis is a lesser-known species of octopus found near Greenland and Iceland, especially in the Davis Strait. The species was described from 9 specimens, and is one of the most recent Opisthoteuthis species described.

Key takeaways

Opisthoteuthis borealis belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Opisthoteuthis borealis to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Opisthoteuthis borealis from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Opisthoteuthis borealis is a lesser-known species of octopus found near Greenland and Iceland, especially in the Davis Strait. The species was described from 9 specimens, and is one of the most recent Opisthoteuthis species described. Not much is known about it besides its anatomy and habitat.

Description Opisthoteuthis borealis belongs to the order Cirrata, a subdivision of octopuses which have fleshy fins to assist in swimming, internal shells supporting their bodies, and two threadlike structures called cirri for each sucker. Many cirrate octopuses live in deep water. Octopuses in the species Opisthoteuthis borealis have mantles up to 75 mm (3.0 in) long. They are medium-sized when compared to closely related species. They have long arms and large eyes. Males of O. borealis have some enlarged suckers; their purpose is unknown. Females don't have enlarged suckers. This specific kind of sex difference, or sexual dimorphism, is also seen in Opisthoteuthis albatrossi and Opisthoteuthis californiana. Some of the males' arms are thickened compared to the arms of females. Anatomically, this species is most similar to Opisthoteuthis grimaldii.

Etymology The genus name comes from Ancient Greek ὄπισθεν (ópisthen), meaning "back", and τευθίς (teuthís), meaning "squid". The specific name borealis means "northern" in Latin.

Habitat Of all species of Opisthoteuthis found in the Atlantic Ocean, O. borealis lives the furthest north. They are found near Greenland and Iceland at depths of 957–1,321 m (3,140–4,334 ft) deep. They live in waters with a small temperature range of 3.0–3.5 °C (37.4–38.3 °F). These octopuses occupy the benthic zone, on and just above the seafloor. The species is of little or no interest to fisheries.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Opisthoteuthis borealis

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Opisthoteuthis borealis claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Opisthoteuthis borealis before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Opisthoteuthis borealis ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Opisthoteuthis borealis

In research: Opisthoteuthis borealis appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Opisthoteuthis borealis in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Opisthoteuthis borealis is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Cephalopods described in 2005, Cephalopods of North America, IUCN Red List data deficient species, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Opisthoteuthis borealis outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Opisthoteuthis borealis in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Opisthoteuthis borealis means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Opisthoteuthis borealis out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Opisthoteuthis borealis in simple terms?

Why does Opisthoteuthis borealis matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Opisthoteuthis borealis?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Opisthoteuthis borealis.