Measuring just 3.9cm in length, this squid species has a singular light producing organ (photophore) to help it navigate the depths.
Because of its deep water habitat little is known of its behaviour but it is known to be a sluggish swimmer with ammonium ions in its body fluid to help keep it bouyant and in this photo it's swimming upside down. Look at the frilly frippy of its little back fins, sweet.
The image was taken from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in the Gulf of Guinea near oil pumping equipment at a depth of 1015 metres.
They like tropical and subtropical oceans also the north temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean with the smaller squid staying higher in the water table and descending into deeper water as they get larger and older.
7 comments:
You find the most fascinating things - love them :)
Echoing Running Amok With An Ax (and I love, love, love his/her monnicker).
The piglet squid is very, very cute. There are so many marvels under the sea.
Ax, there are amazing things under the sea and it really annoys me that we know nothing about them but the boffins still want to voyage off to Mars.
EC, so many comments at your blog about the latest book but try and find the film version with Deborah Kerr and for real spooky, The Woman in Black.
Two of my scientist friends are booked to go to Antarctica to study phytoplankton under the iceshelf but it's next year and without a Science Minister in this pathetic government the whole research trip could be scrapped. Useless pack of trolls.
Thank you. I do so hope your scientist friends get to play. But calling our current guvmint trolls is flattering them.
but do they taste nice crumbed and fried? (*~*)
Interesting. What weird and wonderful things you show us. Time to check the eclipse before it disappears behind the building.
Isn't River just so naughty with her comment.
River, at 3.5cm how many do you think you would have to eat for a decent meal. Not much meat on them it's mostly air and tentacles. I've never tried deep fried squid.
Andrew, I had a great view of the moon, really clear skies around here. I remember the last one which was much bigger, moon being closer to earth.
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