Ommastrephinae is a subfamily of squids under the family Ommastrephidae.
Ommastrephinae includes the largest species of squids belonging to the family Ommastrephidae, Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) which can grow to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in mantle length (ML).[2] It also contains the smallest squid species belonging to the family, the glass squid (Hyaloteuthis pelagica) which has a mantle length of only up to 9 cm (3.5 in).[3] Ommastrephinae are mostly pelagic members of the family Ommastrephidae. Some species of the subfamily (notably Sthenoteuthis and Ommastrephes) are known for their behavior of leaping out of the water (hence the common names 'flying squid').[4]
The name of the subfamily, like the family itself and one if its member genera, Ommastrephes, comes from Greek ὄμμα ('eye') and -strephes ('rolling').[5] They were first described by H.J. Posselt in 1891.
Eight species of squids are recognized under Ommastrephinae, divided among six genera. They are the following:
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