Oct 18, 2019
Of all the squids we encounter in the deep sea, the cranchiids, known as the “glass” squids, are some of the most spectacular. Their bodies are entirely transparent most of the time, but they can also become a dark intense red, or fill the mantle with ink to change their appearance completely.
Their eyes are relatively enormous and iridescent, glowing with strange and spectacular-looking light organs, also known as photophores. This Taonius sp. was encountered at 1,342 meters (4,400 feet) below the surface in Monterey Canyon. They often hanging motionless with their arms above their bodies.
