蛸科动物是头足纲中种类最多的类群，也是国际分类学和系统学领域理解最少的类群之一，尤其是在我国的热带海域，除蛸属个别物种外，迄今大部分类群的研究处于半空白状态。本项目以分布于我国海域的三个疑难属(类)：短腿蛸群、长腿蛸群及小孔蛸属为研究对象，结合已有标本与新采集材料的对照，综合采用传统分类学、DNA条形码技术和生态学资讯，聚焦疑难种的鉴定、新种属描述、分类错误修订以及隐存种揭示等问题，摸清我国南海相关类群的物种多样性、DNA条形码、地理分布等本底状况。在此基础上，完成种属级及相邻低级分类单元的系统发育分析，为近缘种的分子识别和多样性资源的摸底掌握第一手资料，也为我国蛸科头足类分类系统的构建奠定基础。

Octopodidae animals are the largest groups in Cephalopoda. They are also one of the most confusing groups in the international taxonomy and systematics, especially in the tropical waters of China where the study of a large variety of groups remain poorly documented. The project aims to study the three confusing genera (groups): short-armed octopus group, long-armed octopus group as well as Cistopus species. Based on the comparison of the existing specimens and the new collections, the integrative taxonomy method of traditional taxonomy, DNA barcode technology and ecology information will be adopted mainly to resolve uncertain and cryptic species identification, new species and genera description, as well as classification revision. The background information of those related groups in South China Sea have been obtained, such as species diversity, DNA barcoding and geographic distribution. Moreover, the project will also provide the objective basis for the classification system of Octopodidae and first-hand information to molecular phylogenetics analysis of lower level of taxa, and molecular recognition of closely related species.