Strawberry squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis)

Photographed by Paul Caiger

Weird-eyed strawberry squid

MBARI researchers caught a glimpse of a bright red squid with peculiar peepers. The strawberry squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis) had one large bulbous yellow eye, while the other was small and black.

(Image credit: 2022 MBARI)

Histioteuthis heteropsis (H. heteropsis), also known as the strawberry squid or jewel squid, is a species of small cock-eyed squid found in the Pacific Ocean at depths of 200-1000 meters. Famous for not only its berry-like bright red body speckled with numerous luminescent photophores, but also its set of differently sized eyes, this squid is a swift predator of the ocean’s twilight zone. It is thought that the large, yellow-tinted eye, is used to see objects against the dimly lit waters above, while the smaller blue eye, measuring about half the size of the yellow one, is more geared towards capturing bioluminescent light sources below. The strawberry squid's semi-upright posture lets it simultaneously look up, down, and sideways as it jets through the ocean. Food in the deep-sea is scarce, so animals must evolve unique strategies to not only find food, but also to avoid becoming food themselves. The reason for this squid's coloration has to do with the reflection of different wavelengths of light underwater. Red light is quickly filtered as depth increases and thus it effectively never reaches the deep ocean. There, a crimson coloration actually appears black and helps the squid hide from the gaze of predators like sperm whales, dolphins, tunas, swordfish, and sharks. Small light organs called photophores also dot the squid’s body to help mask its silhouette from predators prowling the waters below.

BREAKING NEWS

These little guys max out at about 9cm

I am screaming, thank you

Strawberry squid!

Daily Cephalopod #3

squit...

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Not all eyes are created equal-- in the case of the cock-eyed squid, they couldn't be more different! Members of the genus Histioteuthis are born with two eyes of the same size, but as they get older the left eye grows much faster than the right; by the time they're adults, the left eye can be twice as large as the right! The larger eye faces up towards the surface and detects prey swimming overhead, while the smaller eye can detect bioluminescence from below.

(Image: A cock-eyed squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis) by MBARI)

Strawberry squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis)

Photo by Paul Caiger @ Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

One of my favorite creatures ever!! 🦑･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

These beautiful elegant creatures are found in the tropical/subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They live in the Mesopelagic zone which is often also referred to as the “twilight zone.”

Strawberry squid can be found between depths of from 1,000 meters (3300 feet) and the surface, where they go at night to feed

The photophores within the tissues of their skin produce a distinctive bioluminescent flashing glow which attracts prey. That’s why they look bedazzled!

Strawberry squids have asymmetrical eyes that allow them to perceive light in both bright and dark surroundings. One eye is small and blue while the other is large and yellow and both were adapted for their own unique purpose!

I could go on forever bc these creatures are not only so breathtaking but also soooo incredibly interesting

tw. squid (?)

crawling out of the abyss because i heard we were talking about fish and marine wildlife and i would like to humbly ask thee to consider the strawberry squid………

i am so sorry if i sound delirious (it’s because i am) but i love marine ecology and deep sea freaks and i could not resist spreading the gospel of histioteuthis heteropsis to you and the other fishies skjsdhsjks

I like how you had to put a trigger warning for squid HAIDJKSD

But anyways, LOOK AT THAT BIG BOI. HANDSOME FELLOW. He (or she) looks like a strawberry and it’s so funny how scientists named it after that. They’re just like “yeah, this looks like a giant strawberry. Let’s just call it a strawberry squid” and boom, now it’s a strawberry squid 😭😭

I swear, scientists are the smartest yet funniest people ever because they’re the ones who name everything…

Histioteuthis heteropsis or Strawberry Squid 

The Strawberry Squid gets its name from its red color and photophores (the little “spots” you see). The photophores emit light, allowing the squid to communicate, lure prey, attract a mate, and confuse and hide from predators. This squid has also been nicknamed the Cockeyed Squid because one if its eyes tend to be larger than the other. This is to better deal with the varying light levels it will encounter as it swims through the twilight zone. 

Histioteuthis heteropsis

hey………

hey………….

you got games on your phone

100 Days of Sea Creatures Day 31 - Strawberry Squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis)

One eye faces perpetually upward, and has therefore grown larger to distinguish prey in the gloom

🔥Histioteuthis heteropsis (H. heteropsis), also known as the strawberry squid

Calamar fresa (Histioteuthis heteropsis). Taza mágica. (Se revela el impreso cuando colocas agua caliente dentro de ella).🦑 🍓

$280

Taza de cerámica. Ilustración digital.

“The ‘strawberry squid’ lives in a region of the ocean known as the mesopelagic or "twilight" zone, 200 to 1000 meters below the surface [photo by paul caiger]”

from reddit.