Watch elusive, sucker-less squid in rare footage captured off the Galapagos

Squid photographed against black background of the deep sea — Picture captured of uncommon squid, *Grimalditeuthis bonplandi.* (Picture credit score: Schmidt Ocean Institute)

A analysis vessel off the coast of the Galapagos Islands just lately noticed a not often seen, ghostly squid with weak, sucker-less tentacles floating within the deep, marking solely the second time this elusive species has ever been filmed alive.

Researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute, in collaboration with the Charles Darwin Basis and Parque Nacional Galápagos, noticed the ethereal cephalopod, dubbed Grimalditeuthis bonplandi, utilizing a remotely operated automobile (ROV) throughout an expedition to hydrothermal vents.

G. bonplandi can develop as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) in size. These squid have fragile our bodies and are sluggish swimmers. In response to the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the species inhabits depths of 660 to five,000 ft (200 to 1,500 meters). Though believed to exist worldwide, the squid are not often encountered — till 2005, scientists had solely studied lifeless specimens that got here from the abdomen contents of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus).

Associated: What’s the largest squid on the planet?

Not like different squid, G. bonplandi has feeding tentacles with no suckers. Different cephalopods whip and thrash, grabbing their prey with their tentacles and trapping them with their suckers, however G. bonplandi is considered a swish feeder that undulates its tentacles to lure small shrimp and different crustaceans.

Early analysis collected from lifeless specimens made it clear that this squid lacked muscle in its tentacles. In 2005, scientists noticed the creature within the Monterey Canyon off central California and recorded its unusual conduct for 22 minutes. At the moment, the creature stayed nonetheless, as if shocked. Solely the ends of its tentacles waved and fluttered. This conduct led scientists to invest how the animal captures its prey. It could possibly be mimicking the motion of a small fish or worm, luring creatures by resembling their prey — a way referred to as aggressive mimicry, which is widespread in different cephalopods. Nonetheless, with the restricted video observations and rare encounters, that is unsure.

There’s nonetheless a lot to find out about these mysterious creatures, however ROVs have made it potential to seize illuminating footage to tell new theories till the subsequent dwell sighting.

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