Cirrata is a suborder of the order Octopoda. Most lay people are unaware of this order and even biologists do not know much about it. Cirrata octopuses have a small, internal shell and two fins on their head, while their sister suborder, the Incirrata has neither.

The suborder is named for small cilia-like strands on the arms of the octopus. There is a pair of cirri for each sucker. These are thought to play some role in feeding, perhaps by creating currents of water that help bring food closer to the beak.

Classification

• CLASS CEPHALOPODA
  • Subclass Nautiloidea: nautilus
  • Subclass Coleoidea
    • Superorder Decapodiformes: squid, cuttlefish
    • Superorder Octopodiformes
      • Order Vampyromorphida: Vampire Squid
      • Order Octopoda
        • Suborder Cirrata: finned deep-sea octopus
          • Family Opisthoteuthidae: umbrella octopus
          • Family Cirroteuthidae
          • Family Stauroteuthidae
        • Suborder Incirrata

External link

• Tree of Life website gives information about the classification of cephalopod groups