Vampire squid

The vampire squid does not ink.The tips of of its tentacles emit a cloud of bioluminescent sticky mucus that glows for up to 10 minutes, plenty of time for the squid to escape a predator. Vampire squid are cephalopods that are about the shape, size, and color of a football. The name “vampire” was given to these little squid because of the dark blood-red coloration, eye color (sometimes blue in different lighting), and what looked like spines on the tentacles. These gave rise to the false idea that it sucked blood out of its victims. In fact, these squid float peacefully in their deep, dark, oxygen-deprived habitat, waiting for food to come to it— a different behavior than that of other squid and octopus species. SPECIES IN DETAIL Vampire Squid Vampyroteuthis infernalis CONSERVATION STATUS: Safe for Now CLIMATE CHANGE: Uncertain At the Aquarium Although not on exhibit in the Aquarium, the vampire squid is included in our website animal database to expand on the information originally presented in the Wonders of the Deep gallery, which was open from 2013 to 2016. Geographic Distribution Tropical to temperate deep seas globally, within latitudes 40 degrees north and 40 degrees south of the equator Habitat Vampire squid are found in temperate and tropical deep-water zones worldwide at depths of 600 to 1200 m (1958 to 3937 ft). The water temperature at those depths is very cold, 2-6o C (35.6 to 42.8 o F). This is the OML (oxygen minimal layer) where there may be less than 5 per...

Vampire Squid Profile Despite its name and similar appearance to a squid or an octopus, the vampire squid is actually neither of the two. It’s a cephalopod that’s found at deep-sea, and is the only surviving species in its order known as Vampyromorphida. Vampire squid physically resemble octopuses, but their eight arms are united together by a webbing of skin and it has two long sensory filaments, which further distinguish it. Its scientific name Vampyroteuthis infernalis, means ‘vampire squid from hell’, but this is misleading. The vampire squid doesn’t feed on blood, its name was inspired by its dark cloak-like webbing. Vampire Squid Facts Overview Habitat: 600-1,000m of sea depth Location: Tropical and sub-tropical oceans Lifespan: 8 years Size: 30cm (1 foot) Weight: 450g Color: Bodies jet black to red Diet: Marine snow, zooplankton, mucus, and excrement Predators: Whales, large fish, sealions, sharks, humans Top Speed: 3 kph (2 mph) No. of Species: 1 Conservation Status: Least concern The vampire squid inhabit depths in the tropical and sub-tropical seas across the globe where little light infiltrates, with the majority of them living at between 1,500 and 2,500m below the ocean’s surface, where oxygen levels are extremely low. The vampire squid is a relatively small cephalopod, reaching around the size of a football in adulthood, with females being larger than males. They vary from black to rust red in colour, depending on where they are found. The main part of the bod...

The vampire squid ( Vampyroteuthis infernalis, lit. 'vampire squid from hell') is a small The first specimens were collected on the Valdivia Expedition and were originally described as an octopus in 1903 by German teuthologist Carl Chun, but later assigned to a new order together with several extinct taxa. Popular culture Following an article in Rolling Stone magazine by Matt Taibbi after the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, the term "vampire squid" has been regularly used in popular culture to refer to Goldman Sachs, the American investment bank. Real vampire squids are shown in the "Ocean Deep" episode of Planet Earth. Appearance The vampire squid can reach a maximum total length around 30 cm (1 ft). Its 15-centimetre (5.9 in) gelatinous body varies in colour from velvety jet-black to pale reddish, depending on location and lighting conditions. A webbing of skin connects its eight arms, each lined with rows of fleshy spines or cirri; the inner side of this "cloak" is black. Only the distal halves (farthest from the body) of the arms have suckers. Its limpid, globular eyes, which appear red or blue, depending on lighting, are proportionately the largest in the animal kingdom at 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter. The name of the animal was inspired by its dark colour, and cloaklike webbing, rather than habit—it feeds on detritus, not blood. Mature adults have a pair of small fins projecting from the lateral sides of the mantle. These earlike fins serve as the adult's primary mean...

Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 36 Vampire Squid Facts It lives in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean. It has spikes and tentacles that are older than the dinosaurs. Its scientific name literally translates to “vampire squid from hell.” Would you believe us, however, if we said that vampire squid was actually pretty chill? Despite their name, the vampire squid isn’t fearsome underwater predators. They feed on plankton, mind their own business, and are in possession of some cool features that scientists love studying. They’re a great example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Do you want to learn more about the vampire squid? Are you ready to have an open mind about these deep-sea creatures? Here are 36 vampire squid facts! 1. What does the vampire squid look like? The vampire squid looks a little bit like a squid and a little bit like an octopus. It has a soft, jelly-like body that moves through the water with the help of eight tentacles; the tentacles end in filaments that are used for feeding. The skin between the tentacles is webbed, giving it a “ caped” appearance. The vampire squid can range in color from a soft pink to a pitch black. Its eyes are either blue or red depending on the lighting. One of the coolest things about the vampire squid is that it’s covered in They’re invisible to the naked eye in a bright, daytime aquarium, but in the extreme depths of the ocean where the vampire squ...