Mar. - May 2016 Student Blogs
In a Class All of Their Own
by Sophie C. Age 14, MI - Tuesday, 29 March 2016
by Sophie C. Age 14, MI - Tuesday, 29 March 2016
If the squid and the octopus ever had an undersea basketball match against each other, the poor vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) wouldn't know which side to sit on. This deep sea cephalopod has eight arms like the octopus but uses jet propulsion like the squid. It's retractable sensory filaments--two long arms which are much longer than it's other tentacles and body--look squid-like. And then there's the gelatinous body that more closely resembles the jellyfish. These poor muddled animals.
Truth be told, scientists have discovered they are neither squid nor octopus. They are the only remaining member of the order Vampyromorphida. Much of what makes them different comes from adaptations to their environment. They live in the deep levels of the ocean at 2,000-3,000 feet down. Like many deep sea creatures, they are small with bodies 6 inches long, 12 inches when you add the arms. There is no light at this level so vampire squid lack the ability to change colors like their cousins. There's no point in changing colors if no one can see you. Instead, they are able to put on massive bioluminescent light shows which can last minutes. The chemical is shot into the water so that the vampire squid can quickly retreat while their prey are blinded. They also defend themselves by pulling up their arms so they are inside out which makes them look bigger.
Living at these depths makes them unique. They have the largest eye proportional to their body in the entire animal kingdom. They are the only cephalopods which do not capture and eat live prey. They live on marine snow, the dead particles which float down from surface animals. But I think the most fascinating part about them is that they are able to survive in oxygen saturation levels of 3%, much lower than any other cephalopod. They have special copper based blue blood which binds oxygen super efficiently. They also have a very low metabolic rate--they don't move around more than they have to. No high speed chases for these guys.
I feel a bit sorry for the poor misunderstood vampire squid--which is not vampire like at all. Despite the creepy name, it poses no threat to humans. The reverse can probably not be said. So think some nice thoughts about this solitary creature living in the dark, deep cold ocean.
Living at these depths makes them unique. They have the largest eye proportional to their body in the entire animal kingdom. They are the only cephalopods which do not capture and eat live prey. They live on marine snow, the dead particles which float down from surface animals. But I think the most fascinating part about them is that they are able to survive in oxygen saturation levels of 3%, much lower than any other cephalopod. They have special copper based blue blood which binds oxygen super efficiently. They also have a very low metabolic rate--they don't move around more than they have to. No high speed chases for these guys.
I feel a bit sorry for the poor misunderstood vampire squid--which is not vampire like at all. Despite the creepy name, it poses no threat to humans. The reverse can probably not be said. So think some nice thoughts about this solitary creature living in the dark, deep cold ocean.