Midwater squid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Midwater squid |
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| Tentacles of Abralia veranyi | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Abralia
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| Species: |
veranyi
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| Synonyms | |
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Enoploteuthis veranyi Rüppell, 1844 |
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Abralia veranyi is a type of squid often called the eye-flash squid or midwater squid. It lives in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This amazing squid moves up and down in the water every day, from deep, dark areas to closer to the surface.
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What Does the Midwater Squid Look Like?
The midwater squid is a small creature. Its main body, called the mantle, is only about 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long. It has a fin, four pairs of arms, and two long tentacles.
The tips of its arms have four rows of suckers. The club part of each tentacle has three hooks. Male squids have a special fourth arm on their left side. This arm is called a hectocotylus. It helps the male transfer tiny packets of sperm, called spermatophores, to the female during mating.
The underside of the squid has about 550 special organs that make light. These are called photophores. They are arranged in rows. Each row has 4 to 6 large light organs with many smaller ones in between. There are also two large and three medium-sized light organs right under each of its big eyes.
Where Does the Midwater Squid Live?
This squid was first found in the Mediterranean Sea. But it also lives in many warm parts of the Atlantic Ocean. You can find it from France and the coast of West Africa all the way to the Bear Seamount near New England. It also lives in the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico, the Sargasso Sea, and northern Brazil.
During the day, these squids stay very deep, usually between 700 to 800 metres (2,300 to 2,600 ft) down. But at night, they swim much closer to the surface, only about 20 to 60 metres (66 to 197 ft) deep.
In 1921, a person in Funchal, Madeira, noticed these squids near the city's quay. They would come close to the surface at night, especially when electric lights were on. You could see their bluish light shining from their eyes. People could even catch them with a small basket! This was one of the first times this squid was recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.
How Does the Midwater Squid Live?
The midwater squid stays in very deep water during the day. This area is called the aphotic zone, meaning "no light." It stays there to hide from animals that might want to eat it. But at night, it swims up closer to the surface. It does this to find small invertebrates to eat. This daily up-and-down movement is called daily vertical migration.
Counter-Illumination Camouflage
The midwater squid uses its photophores, or light-making organs, on its underside in a clever way. This is a special type of camouflage called counter-illumination. Imagine looking up from deep water towards the dim light above. If the squid were dark, it would look like a clear silhouette. But by producing its own light, the squid can match the dim light coming from above. This makes its outline harder to see. It helps the squid blend in and hide from predators looking up from below.
The squid can even change the color of the light it makes! It checks the water temperature to know what color light to emit. In cold water, it makes a bluish light, like the sunlight that reaches those depths. In warmer water, it produces greener light, similar to moonlight. This helps it match its surroundings perfectly.
