Friday Cephalopod: Vampyroteuthis. That says it all. : Pharyngula

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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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Friday Cephalopod: Vampyroteuthis. That says it all.

Category: Cephalopods • Organisms
Posted on: February 5, 2010 6:17 AM, by PZ Myers

Vampyroteuthis infernalis

(via National Geographic)

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Comments

Posted by: kakenrookenstivlobits | February 5, 2010 6:44 AM

Awe-inspiring! That is an absolutely gorgeous creature.

Posted by: Rachel Bronwyn | February 5, 2010 6:46 AM

I'm so sick of this Twilight shit.

Posted by: rmp | February 5, 2010 7:25 AM

Rachel, be thankful you're not friends with my wife. I've been to New Moon twice (because I'm a good husband).

Posted by: Fred The Hun | February 5, 2010 7:44 AM

Too bad our mere existence is such a threat to all other living creatures.

The Sixth Extinction
http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/eldredge2.html

Best wishes for a more sane and sustainable future.

Posted by: RichVR | February 5, 2010 7:56 AM

Gorgeous!

Posted by: octopode.myopenid.com | February 5, 2010 8:17 AM

I've always thought that must be the best name in all of taxonomy.

I mean, Vampire Squid from Hell? What can top that ;)

Posted by: John Hattan | February 5, 2010 8:30 AM

Dang, Roger Corman predicted that one. If you watch the original 1957 "Not Of This Earth", the space vampire bad-guy unleashes a flying creature that looks exactly like that. I won't spoil the plot, but it does something that scared the crap outta me when I was a little kid.

It's in the public domain, so I won't be breaking any rules by telling you that you can find it on most bittorrent searches. It's been remade about three times, so find the original :)

Posted by: Stardrake | February 5, 2010 8:36 AM

False advertising.

The corner identifier plainly says MBARI, but that is clearly a Vorlon....

Posted by: Holytape | February 5, 2010 9:37 AM

It's a beautiful beast. Surprising, this short video has more excitement and better acting than the twilight movies. In a fight, I am taking the vampire squid over any sparkle vampire.

Nautilove and Nautilhate

#10

Posted by: recovering catholic | February 5, 2010 9:56 AM

"Technichally not a squid"? Well, duh!

#11

Posted by: Butch Pansy | February 5, 2010 10:01 AM

My biological expertise is more botanical. I offer "Dracula vampira" as my favorite taxonomic hilarity. Sorry, no links. It's a pleurothalid orchid from the cool heights of Ecuador. Groovyness, dude.

#12

Posted by: https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnH12MIbwfL5GQ5JFHNM4JV4tBIA6vqtmM | February 5, 2010 10:11 AM

I agree with octopode @6 that the name has got to be the ultimate!

I also suggest that the good folks at NatGeo use the MBARI videos as a guide for their staff producing the scripts for the other ones (you know which videos I mean....).

#13

Posted by: Sanction, Inherent Antonym | February 5, 2010 10:14 AM

The corner identifier plainly says MBARI, but that is clearly a Vorlon....

Specifically, a transport ship modified by the Vorlons to resemble what Earthers call a cephalopod.

In the B5 universe, Vorlons modified human DNA so that a human would perceive a Michelangelo-style angel upon seeing a Vorlon.

As an atheist, I loved that little twist.

I still miss that show.

#14

Posted by: daveau | February 5, 2010 10:14 AM

Vampyroteuthis infernalis- What, again? You're obsessing, PZ.

rmp@3 has obviously been to husband school, as all good husbands have. Quote from the spousal unit when talking to her friends: "You don't think he came out of the box like that, do you?"

Yay, Friday!

#15

Posted by: Poor Wandering One | February 5, 2010 10:30 AM

Now that is the way to start a workday.
Thank you PZ.

Now drink up wouldn't want that Guinness to go to waste now would you.

#16

Posted by: Maslab | February 5, 2010 10:33 AM

What a most fascinating creature!

#17

Posted by: RickK | February 5, 2010 10:49 AM

"Has changed very little in 300 million years..."

Well, that proves evolution is a hoax. There will certainly be a picture of this in the next edition of "Atlas of Creation".

#18

Posted by: Uncle Glenny | February 5, 2010 11:00 AM

Nothing a long, gentle saute in butter and garlic won't fix.

#19

Posted by: Glen Davidson | February 5, 2010 11:23 AM

Sorry, critter, you won't pass for a goldfish no matter how serene you look.

Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p

#20

Posted by: JJ | February 5, 2010 11:26 AM

YAY for MBARI!

#21

Posted by: Ray Moscow | February 5, 2010 11:52 AM

The un-squid, and very cool.

#22

Posted by: docrick11 | February 5, 2010 11:56 AM

Damn, it took me a minute to figure out if that was CGI or not. It just looked too perfect and clean at first.

#23

Posted by: gordonf.pip.verisignlabs.com | February 5, 2010 12:00 PM

That is one BAD ASS looking dude! Too cool to be true, and yet there it is...

#24

Posted by: llewelly | February 5, 2010 12:40 PM

Rachel Bronwyn | February 5, 2010 6:46 AM:

I'm so sick of this Twilight shit.

Vampyroteuthis infernalis was first described and classified in 1903. Predates Twilight just a bit.

#25

Posted by: llewelly | February 5, 2010 12:43 PM

If you do a google image search for "vampyroteuthis infernalis", the #1 and #2 links are both to Firday cephalopod pics of this creature.

#26

Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline. | February 5, 2010 3:06 PM

But how does it taste?

#27

Posted by: John A | February 5, 2010 3:21 PM

Vampyroteuthis is my second favorite cephalopod!

#28

Posted by: cuco3 | February 5, 2010 5:38 PM

I didn't know they could turn themselves inside out, (sort of). I'd certainly find that a bit off-putting, along with the nasty dried-blood colour.

I wish I'd taken the time to go to the MBA when I visited the area a couple of years ago.

#29

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | February 5, 2010 5:47 PM

"Has changed very little in 300 million years..."

Where did they get that number?
Ain't no fossils, are there?
Is it a molecular-clock estimate of divergence, or what?

#30

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | February 5, 2010 5:48 PM

well, OK, except for this one.
But it's only half that old!

#31

Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM | February 5, 2010 6:44 PM

So National Geographic can make videos where the narration is aimed at adults. Why don't they do this all the time?

#32

Posted by: Phledge | February 5, 2010 9:27 PM

The commentary at the end about how we should preserve the seas so that humans can still eat from them really chaps my hide. Shouldn't we just be preserving the seas, period?

Otherwise, awesome video. Seconding the comments about narration for grownups.

#33

Posted by: jim.swanson.myopenid.com | February 6, 2010 12:23 AM

More Friday cephalopod goodness:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffeta/4333982368/

#34

Posted by: Butch Pansy | February 6, 2010 1:46 AM

Not some plastic imitation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsXknE8LOEI

#35

Posted by: Butch Pansy | February 6, 2010 1:49 AM

Oh dear, that went off in the wrong direction. Now I've injured some innocent bystanders on this lovely cephalopod thread with the evil earworms of that other one.

#36

Posted by: Beelzebub | February 6, 2010 4:26 AM