Vampire Squid

deep sea · bioluminescent · cephalopod · ocean mystery

Lives in the midnight zone. The vampire squid dwells in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean where sunlight never reaches and oxygen is incredibly scarce. This creature has adapted to survive in conditions that would kill most other animals.

Glows in the dark. It uses bioluminescent organs to create light in the pitch-black deep sea. Scientists believe it uses these glowing lights to communicate with other vampire squids or confuse predators.

Two fishing filaments. Unlike regular squids and octopuses, the vampire squid has two long, wispy filaments that extend from between its arms. These special tentacles are tucked away and can stretch out to help it find food in the darkness.

Super oxygen efficient. This squid has a unique metabolism that lets it survive in water with almost no oxygen. Most ocean creatures need lots of oxygen to live, but the vampire squid can thrive where oxygen is almost gone.

A living fossil. The vampire squid is the last surviving member of its entire order, Vampyromorphida, making it a phylogenetic relict. It is more closely related to octopuses than to true squids, despite being called a squid.