Vampire Squid
Scientific Name: Vampyroteuthis infernalis
Location and Habitat: the Vampire Squid is a deep-sea cephalopod found in temperate and tropical oceans all over the world. It is one of the only animals/cephalopods to live 600-900 metres deep in an area known as the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ). In this area, oxygen saturation is as low as 3% a feat no other cephalopod, and few other animals, can survive.
Diet: With just one look, you would think that a squid with ‘fangs’ like that under its ‘cloak’ it would attack larger prey but it is believed that the Vampire Squid eats small invertebrate such as prawns, copepods and cnidarians. It is likely that this creature has a larger list of prey as there isn’t much discovered about the Vampire Squid’s diet.
Predators: the Vampire Squid’s predators include sea lions and deep-diving whales. It squirts out a bioluminescent mucus that dazes the predator long enough for the Vampire Squid to escape.
Human Interaction: Vampire Squids have absolutely no interaction with humans unless they are accidently caught in a fishing net. They will not harm a human but if they feel threatened they will release a sticky cloud of bioluminescent mucus that slightly dazes its predators.
Colour and Characteristics: The Vampire Squid gets its name because it looks like a vampire wearing a cape. Vampire Squids have eight long arms that are connected by web-like skin (this is known as the ‘cloak’). Inside the cloak, on the inside of the arms, there are littlesuckers (like that of an octopus). Their colours vary from a dark black to a dark red, so they blend in with the dark deep and aren’t very easy for predators to spot. Similar the Halloween favourite, the vampire, these squids have bright red eyes that stick out of the sides of their heads.
Location and Habitat: the Vampire Squid is a deep-sea cephalopod found in temperate and tropical oceans all over the world. It is one of the only animals/cephalopods to live 600-900 metres deep in an area known as the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ). In this area, oxygen saturation is as low as 3% a feat no other cephalopod, and few other animals, can survive.
Diet: With just one look, you would think that a squid with ‘fangs’ like that under its ‘cloak’ it would attack larger prey but it is believed that the Vampire Squid eats small invertebrate such as prawns, copepods and cnidarians. It is likely that this creature has a larger list of prey as there isn’t much discovered about the Vampire Squid’s diet.
Predators: the Vampire Squid’s predators include sea lions and deep-diving whales. It squirts out a bioluminescent mucus that dazes the predator long enough for the Vampire Squid to escape.
Human Interaction: Vampire Squids have absolutely no interaction with humans unless they are accidently caught in a fishing net. They will not harm a human but if they feel threatened they will release a sticky cloud of bioluminescent mucus that slightly dazes its predators.
Colour and Characteristics: The Vampire Squid gets its name because it looks like a vampire wearing a cape. Vampire Squids have eight long arms that are connected by web-like skin (this is known as the ‘cloak’). Inside the cloak, on the inside of the arms, there are littlesuckers (like that of an octopus). Their colours vary from a dark black to a dark red, so they blend in with the dark deep and aren’t very easy for predators to spot. Similar the Halloween favourite, the vampire, these squids have bright red eyes that stick out of the sides of their heads.