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