Grimalditeuthis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grimalditeuthis |
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| Genus: |
Grimalditeuthis
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bonplandi
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The Grimalditeuthis bonplandi is a special kind of squid that lives deep in the ocean. It's named after the Grimaldi family, who rule Monaco. Prince Albert I of Monaco was very interested in deep-sea squids. He studied them by looking at what sperm whales had eaten and then spit out!
The second part of its name, bonplandi, honors a French scientist named Aimé Bonpland. Scientists first saw this squid alive in its natural home in 2005.
This amazing squid can make its own light, which is called bioluminescence. It also uses a clever trick called aggressive mimicry. The tips of its long arms look like a small, harmless squid. It dangles these tips far from its body to attract fish and other squids. When a curious animal comes close, the Grimalditeuthis bonplandi quickly grabs its prey. Parts of this squid's arms have even been found inside a fish called the longnose lancetfish.
Where This Squid Lives
This squid is not seen very often, but scientists believe it lives all over the world. It makes its home in the deep ocean, far below the surface. You can find it between 200 and 1500 meters (about 650 to 4,900 feet) deep. This area is known as the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zone.
What This Squid Looks Like
The Grimalditeuthis bonplandi can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long, measured from its head to the end of its body. It looks a bit different from other squids in its family, Chiroteuthidae. It has a longer neck and a unique body and fin shape.
Like many deep-sea creatures, this squid is bioluminescent, meaning it glows in the dark. But only the female squids have light-producing organs, called photophores, and these are found only on the very tips of their tentacles.
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