Images Dated 13th October 2004

Vampire Squid - Close-up of eye

DOW-150
Vampire Squid - Close-up of eye
Monterey - California - USA
Vampyroteuthis infernalis
Small white discs / Dots are Photophores - Light producing organs - Deep sea 600-900mtrs/2-3000 ft in the oxygen minimum zone - It is currently the only animal in the order Vampyromorphida; an order "in between" octopus and squid; mainly due to the addition of sensory filaments believed to be used for finding food in the deep sea - It has eight long arms and two filaments that extend well past the total length of the body and can retract into pockets found in the webbing between the arms - Within the webbing are two pouches wherein the tactile velar filaments are concealed.
Steve Downer
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