[4] Some authorities adopt the traditional view that the genus Stauroteuthis is part of the family Stauroteuthidae that is characterized by the presence of a secondary web.

[8] Although observations of hunting and feeding behavior seem to be absent from the literature, Stauroteuthis syrtensis has been reported to float passively with arms contracted, webs curled into a ball, and eyes hooded, until disturbed by research submersibles.

It seems to be fairly common off the edge of the continental shelf on the eastern coast of the United States, and has also been observed at similar depths off the British Isles.

The strongest restriction factor to their northern range is assumed to be related to temperature[8] Stauroteuthis is one of only two genera of octopuses to exhibit bioluminescence.

[3] S. syrtensis emits a blue-green light from about 40 modified suckers known as photophores situated in a single row between the pairs of cirri on the underside of each arm.

[3] The function of the bioluminescence is believed to be for defense, being used by the animal to scare off predators, and also as a lure for the planktonic crustaceans that form its main diet.

The resulting robotic gripper is therefore superior for grasping round, concave, flat, or irregularly shaped objects when visibility is low or conditions are turbid.