Vampire squid

Vampire squid ( Vampyroteuthis infernalis )

The vampire squid ( Vampyroteuthis infernalis ) was discovered during the first German deep-sea expedition from 1898 to 1899 and is the only representative of the order of Vampyromorpha an evolutionary transitional form of the ten - eight-armed cephalopods to. His name, which literally means " vampire squid from hell ", then he received because of the skins, which span between his arms and give him the look of a wrapped in a cape vampire. However, contrary to its name, the vampire squid eats not of blood but of detritus.

Discovery

The vampire squid has been discovered during the first German deep-sea expedition of 1898-1899 and 1903 first described scientifically by the German Carl Chun.

Anatomy

The vampire squid is one of up to 30 cm body length of the smaller members of the eight-armed cephalopods and squid. It received its name because of the skins, which span between his arms and give him the look of a wrapped in a cape vampire. The suction cups on the arms are not used to hold the prey, like other cephalopods, but for einschleimen of detritus. These eight Hüllarme are provided with finger-like appendages that drive the food mucus.

In addition to these eight arms to einschleimen there are two other filamentous provided with sense organs arms, may serve for sensing, also Erriechen of detritus. This filamentary arms can be stretched to eight times the length of the hull length, as also withdrawn into the shell.

On the rear side of the casing it possesses pronounced fins. The body is occupied by numerous light organs that produce light by bioluminescence. A pair of these light organs can be closed by special lids and can emit a cloud of light particles to confuse potential enemies. This cloud remains for up to ten minutes, and is lit. The eyes of the vampire squid are in relation to the body, the largest in the animal kingdom and make almost two inches width nearly one-sixth of the body length from.

Mouth view

Dissected specimen (center) and two immature specimens

Habitat

Vampyroteuthis lived in deep waters around between 600 and 1000 meters deep, according to other sources up to 3000 meters. The optimum water temperature is 2-6 ° C. Throughout his life he keeps in a low oxygen environment (oxygen saturation can be less than 5 %). Vampyroteuthis can live here because its blood contains a different blood pigment ( hemocyanin ), which can recover oxygen from the water very effectively, also the surface of his gills is very large.

Way of life

The vampire squid feeds on detritus and thus pursues an energy-saving lifestyle. Normally it can be carried by the current and barely moves actively. The large fins and the webbing between the arms allow for this movement, which resembles that of the jellyfish. The animal has a very low metabolic rate, the lowest among the cephalopods at all. On the other hand Vampyroteuthis is also capable of rapid movement. In contrast to all other cephalopods, the vampire squid captured live animals, but feed on organic particles that sink in the deep sea to the ground, the so-called marine snow. This consists of diatoms, zooplankton, salps and eggs, larvae and body parts of fish and crustaceans. The food particles are sensed with the two thread-like sense poor, step in line from the suction cups of the eight other arms, enveloped by the sheath of the eight holding arms and absorbed as a slimy mass from the mouth.