#galiteuthis

[every-day-creechur]

Cockatoo Squid Galiteuthis phyllura

A species of glass squid from the north Pacific, and possibly the second-largest squid by mantle length, up to 2.7m. It is possible that this squid has been observed from Remotely Operated Vehicles, on such occasions when startled it inflates its mantle and squirts ink into the mantle cavity.

Least Concern

image by MBARI

[herpsandbirds]

Cockatoo Squid (Galiteuthis phyllura), family Cranchidae, Monterey Bay, California, USA

photograph via: MBARI

[montereybayaquarium]

We don't have much else to say except: Look at this inkredible Galiteuthis glass squid!! 😍🦑

OK, no wait, here's some more to say: The cranchiid squid, a.k.a glass squid like this Galiteuthis sp., often have light-producing organs called photophores around their eyes. Cephalopod photophores can be a simple group of light-producing ("photogenic") cells, or they can be quite complex, with photogenic cells surrounded by reflectors, lenses, light guides, color filters and muscles.

Complex photophores are often able to actively adjust the color, intensity and angular distribution of the light they produce. Scientists believe that these photophores around the eyes provide counter-illumination, where the organ produces light to cancel out the shadow cast by the squid's eyeballs in the faint deep-sea light.

In the vast midwater of the deep sea, where there’s nowhere to hide and your shadow is your enemy, glass squid photophores make light work out of camouflage.