Friday Deep-Sea Picture (8/24/07)

By Dr. M, on

August 24th, 2007

From NG: Despite its delicate, decorated appearance, this jewel squid was found 1,650 lung-crushing feet (500 meters) beneath the surface of the North Atlantic. Scientists on a recent deep-sea expedition found the squid, called Histioteuthis, along with an abundance of other species thought to be very rare, if not unknown, elsewhere. Jewel squid are known for their mismatched eyes, one of which is larger than the other to scope for prey in the deep’s darkness. More pictures here…

2 comments to Friday Deep-Sea Picture (8/24/07)

luca

August 28, 2007 at 04:30 · Reply

Wow!.

Does the dissimmetry in the eye mirror an equivalent dissimmetry in the brain to better process the different input? I am surprised as I thought that down there no light would make it, so predators would rely on other senses to hunt their preys…
Peter Etnoyer

August 28, 2007 at 08:56 · Reply

Bioluminescence is the primary source of light at 500m, Luca. Some squid prey have photophores to emit this light. Squid have photophores, too. Deep-sea squid flash light before they attack their prey. Here’s more on that story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6357005.stm