Cephalopod

Glowing-arm squid

Octopoteuthis deletron

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic A single ocean

North Pacific, from Japan to California

Depth

400 to 800 m

Size

Mantle about 15 cm

Diet

Fish, crustaceans

Zone

Twilight zone · 200 – 1,000 m

Key facts

• When attacked, it sheds the glowing tips of its arms, which keep shining and wriggling to distract the predator.
• In the dark, males sometimes mate with other males by mistake.

Verified sources

1. Hoving et al. 2012, Biology Letters
2. Bush 2012, MEPS 458
3. SeaLifeBase, Octopoteuthis deletron

In the game: Prey: +10 points

In the same zone

Ram’s horn squidSpirula spirula Black-eyed squidGonatus onyx Giant larvaceanBathochordaeus sp. SalpFamily Salpidae Arrow wormPhylum Chaetognatha Giant ostracodGigantocypris sp.