Oct 10, 2019
We’re looking at right you, Squid Day!
We're celebrating International Squid Day with the spectacular octopus squid, named Octopoteuthis deletron because it only has eight arms (like it's octopus relatives). This species of squid is amazing in so many different ways! Their tentacles are bioluminescent, with light-producing photophores at the end of each arm. They also have a fascinating way of protecting themselves when threatened by predators. Like a lizard that detaches its tail when attacked, these squid can detach their bioluminescent arm tips, leaving a wiggling arm with a flashing photophore in the grasp of their confused would-be predator. As far as we know, it is the only squid species to exhibit this unusual defensive behavior.
