eggcase of the winged argonaut
Refers specifically to the delicate, papery shell-like eggcase produced by the female argonaut. Colloquial term.
See also: フネダコ
海岸で美しいタコブネを見つけた。
I found a beautiful argonaut eggcase on the beach.
winged argonaut (Argonauta hians)
The animal itself, a pelagic octopus. The eggcase sense is more common in everyday contexts.
タコブネは外洋性のタコの仲間だ。
The winged argonaut is a type of pelagic octopus.
Katakana spelling is common for this biological term.
Hiragana spelling is also used.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 蛸 (tako, 'octopus') and 船 (fune, 'boat'), referring to the boat-like shape of the eggcase. The reading fune changes to bune due to rendaku.