Bio

Like other cephalopods, glass squids (family Cranchiidae) are covered in tiny pigment sacs called chromatophores. They often keep their chromatophores closed, so their skin is basically see-through. This invisibility cloak hides them from both predators and prey.⁠ ⁠ When the glass squid’s cover is blown, they expand their chromatophores to darken their appearance. Some may fill their body cavity with ink instead, presumably to blend into the darkness. And when danger still looms, a glass squid may squirt ink into the water and jet away. A ghostly shroud of ink creates a distraction so the squid can escape.⁠ ⁠ More than 60 species of glass squids live in deep twilight waters around the world. Some are little more than 10 centimeters (four inches) long, but others are giants. In fact, the largest of all squids—the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), nearly 10 meters (33 feet) long and weighing up to 495 kilograms (1,091 pounds)—belongs to the family Cranchiidae. We typically see smaller glass squids about 30 centimeters (12 inches) long, likely because the larger ones are faster swimmers that can easily elude our slow-moving submersibles.

Captured Moments ✨ A moment worth keeping.

Captured Moments ✨ A moment worth keeping.

Margarita Sikorskaia figurative painter b.1968

Every observation of animals like the Pacific viperfish helps us better understand the remarkable adaptations that allow life to thrive in the deep ocean.

Who are you choosing in the original ‘Golden Axe’ - Gillius Thunder Head, Ax Battler, or Tyris Flare?

Say hello to the adorable arbiter snailfish (Careproctus kamikawai). Snailfishes are a diverse and thriving group of fishes with over 400 described species. Their pelvic fins are modified into suction cups that allow them to fasten onto rocks, corals, or even research equipment and hold on in strong currents.

Tomopterids are pelagic polychaetes (segmented worms) with paddle-like parapodia that propel them through the water column. They are relatively common in the midnight zone and can live down to about 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). Many Tomopterids are only a centimeter or two long, but some can also get to be quite large—up to 30 centimeters (12 inches!). They are voracious predators, using their speed and agility to capture and consume a variety of midwater organisms. ⁠ ⁠ Females of this group produce a pheromone that attracts males and signals them to shed sperm into the water. This, in turn, signals the female to release her eggs—a behavior called swarming.

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