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The squid fauna of the New Zealand region contains at least 16 species of Cranchiidae and 2 of Gonatidae. Their synonymies, diagnoses, and descriptions are revised, and a key for identification of cranchiids is presented. Two cranchiid subfamilies are accepted. The Cranchiinae comprise three genera, Cranchia (monotypic) and Leachia and Liocranchia (each with two species). Loligopsis schneehagenii, Zygaenopsis pacifica, Pyrgopsis atlantica, Drechselia danae, and Leachia dislocata are here synonymised with Leachia eschscholtzii. Cranchia scabra, Leachia cyclura, L. eschscholtzii, and Liocranchia reinhardtii occur in New Zealand seas. The Taoniinae comprise 11 genera, Taonius, Megalocranchia, Galiteuthis, Hensenioteuthis, Sandalops, Bathothauma, Helicocranchia, Teuthowenia, Fusocranchia, Mesonychoteuthis, and Egea. Phasmatopsis cymoctypus is restored to Taonius and Toxeuma belone is placed in this genus also, both as type species with T. pavo; diagnostic features of the three species are compared in...