Initially, B. beanii was considered a potential member of the family Chiroteuthidae due to the neck-like feature observed in its paralarvae, but further examination revealed several key differences that warranted its placement in Brachioteuthidae instead.

These species were primarily based on paralarval forms, with very little morphological detail provided, and additional research was needed, particularly to confirm the validity of B. behnii.

In 1910, Carl Chun described B. picta, based on a nearly perfect mature specimen collected in the Benguela Current off the coast of Africa.

Slosarczykovia, a new genus described in the same work, was distinguished by the presence of a fibrous net in both males and females, a weakly differentiated suckered club, and the absence of a carpal fixing apparatus.

Despite a lack of significant morphological similarities, Discoteuthidae is considered the sister group to Brachioteuthidae, a relationship that remains somewhat enigmatic, given the few shared traits between the two families.

However, in 1996, Clyde Roper and Mike Vecchione discussed paired behaviour in B. beanii detected in the north Atlantic through live sightings.