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Strawberry squid, (Histioteuthis reversa).

Strawberry squid, (Histioteuthis reversa).
Strawberry squid, (Histioteuthis reversa).
Strawberry squid, (Histioteuthis reversa).
Strawberry squid, (Histioteuthis reversa).
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Caiger, Paul
Strawberry squid, (Histioteuthis reversa).
Still Image
07/28/2019
Strawberry_squid-Histioteuthis_reversa.jpg
This is a member of the cock-eye squid group, named as such due to different sized eyes (the larger one looks up into the dim light, the smaller one pointing down scanning for flashes of bioluminescence). It's also known as the reverse jewel squid (aka the specific name reversa) due to the complex arrangement of photophores that somewhat look like jewels stuck in the body. A big source of food for many of the large apex predators that forage down into the twilight zone to feed (e.g. toothed whales such as sperm whales and Risso's dolphins).
Most Like WHOI Instagram Photo of 2019.
Caption from 2020 Wall Calendar, inside cover:
This bejeweled beauty is a Strawberry Squid (Histioteuthis reversa), sampled from the ocean twilight zone, a mysterious stratum of ocean beneath the sunlit surface layer and extending down to about 1,000 meters (~3,300 feet) deep. A member of the cock-eyed squid group, this cephalopod is so named for its mismatched eyes: the larger one looks up into the dim light, while the smaller one points downward to scan for flashes of bioluminescence, indicating a potential meal. It is also known as the reverse jewel squid due to photophores that resemble jewels covering its body. The Strawberry Squid is a source of food for many of the large apex predators—such as sperm whales and Risso’s dolphins—that dive down into the twilight zone to feed.
Photo by Paul Caiger
Copyright © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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