Cranchiate cephalopods are a diverse family of squids that are a dominant component in the world's oceans. They constitute an important link in the food web in mid-water depth intervals. Dr. Nancy Voss has held several NSF awards for systematic, biogeographic and evolutionary study of the family. She has requested renewed support for the production of monographic revisions of two genera, and for a biogeographic synthesis of 13 genera in the family. This project is a natural continuation of past contributions and will lead eventually to a synthesis of the family's evolutionary and biogeographic history. The proposed research has wide implications for study of the evolution and distribution of other cephalopods, and of other members of the pelagic fauna. Applied scientists will have the benefit of improved identification criteria and superbly illustrated guides to species.
