SquidsCharity Sonier

Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a

mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in

pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles. Squid are strong swimmers and certain species can 'fly' for short

distances out of the water.

Anatomy

The Vampire squidAt a maximum of one foot in total length, the vampire squid is no threat to humans. Its body

varies in color between velvety jet-black and pale reddish, depending on location and

lighting conditions. A webbing of skin connects its eight arms, each lined with rows of fleshy

spines; the inside of this "cloak" is black. Only the farthest part of the arms have suckers. Its eyes, which appear red or blue, depending on lighting, are proportionately the largest in the

animal kingdom at 1 inch in diameter

ClassificationKingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:MolluscaClass:CephalopodaSubclass:ColeoideaSuperorder:OctopodiformesOrder:VampyromorphidaSuborder:VampyromorphinaFamily:VampyroteuthidaeGenus:VampyroteuthisSpecies:V. infernalis

General Information

The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) is a small, deep-sea cephalopod found throughout the

temperate and tropical oceans of the world. Unique retractile sensory filaments justify the Vampire Squid's

placement in its own order: Vampyromorphida (formerly Vampyromorpha), which shares similarities

with both squid and octopuses.

Habitat and AdaptionsThe Vampire squid is an extreme example

of a deep sea cephalopod. Their hemocyanin binds and transports oxygen

more efficiently than in other cephalopods, aided by gills with

especially large surface area along with other adaptations, like a low metabolic

rate. This allows them to live within depths that few other organisms can

bear, known as the “Oxygen minimum zone” 600-900 feet underneath the

ocean’s surface.

BehaviourThe vampire Squid is capable of swimming very

quickly, but because of their low metabolic rate they have stamina issues. Because of

this, they have developed different methods of predator avoidance such as, they are able tot urn themselves inside out in order to look

much larger, and they have glowing pigments at the end of each arm distracting

from any critical parts of the body.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWAnliNc6wk&feature=related

Digestive SystemLike all cephalopods, squid have complex

digestive systems. The muscular stomach is found roughly in the

midpoint of the body. From there, the bolus moves into the caecum for

digestion. The caecum, a long, white organ, is found next to the ovary or

testis. In mature squid, more priority is given to reproduction such that the

stomach and caecum often shrivel up during the later life stages. Finally, food

goes to the liver (or digestive gland), found at the bottom end, for absorption. Solid waste is passed out of the rectum.

It is a unique member of the cephalopod family in that it shares similarities with both squid and

octopuses. In fact, it was originally and mistakenly identified as an octopus by

researchers in 1903

Did you know?

Bibliography

http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/vampire-squid.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWAnliNc6wk&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_squid