Some times I find myself in random corners of the Interweb, pleasantly lost, and then I come face to face with the piglet squid!
Unaccustomed to Earth's atmosphere, the visitor quickly perished.
The following info is from a short press release provided by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium when they found this little tyke.
Piglet Squid, Helicocranchia pfefferi
This funny looking squid is about the size of a small avocado and can be found most commonly in the deepwater (greater than 100 m or 320 ft) of virtually all oceans. Its habit of filling up with water and the funny location of its siphone with a wild-looking 'tuft' of eight arms and two tentacles had prompted scientists to name it the piglet squid.
The body is almost totally clear revealing a dark mass that is the internal organs and barely visible, feather-like gills. Pigment organs dot the surface of the skin. In the picture a row of these 'chromatophores' provide a smile-like look. There are two small finst at the opposite end of the body from the head. Very little known of its biology. It has been observed from submersibles in the head down oriengation, but no one is sure why. It is a sluggish swimmer with ammonium ions in its body fluid that help keep it bouyant. A large light producing organ (photophore) is located beneath each of its large eyes.
Life Science
Comments
I think this ought to win some kind of Cosmic Award. It is almost too comical to believe. Where can I get a dozen of them?
Posted by: Pat | October 20, 2008 9:22 PM
Wow. Awesome find! That is just weird. Like your brother.
Posted by: Kevin Z | October 20, 2008 9:39 PM
"ammonium ions in its body fluid that help keep it bouyant"
Ammonia can surely make the the poor piglet stink like Windex-drinking hobo.
Posted by: milkshake | October 20, 2008 9:40 PM
LOL @ teh ky00t!
Posted by: Mad Hussein LOLscientist, FCD | October 21, 2008 2:05 AM
Just when I think the creatures of this planet can't get any cuter... SQUEE!!! :)
Posted by: The Perky Skeptic | October 21, 2008 1:36 PM
Squiglet!
(Scientists are rubbish at naming things).
Posted by: Ben Blench | October 22, 2008 1:00 PM
I'm calling photoshop on the is one
Posted by: icall bs | October 24, 2008 3:14 PM
you know those wily Cabrillo Marine Aquarium researchers, always up to photoshopping little known species and publishing papers on them. what goofballs!
Posted by: Andrew | October 24, 2008 3:40 PM
Piglet squid, piglet squid, does whatever a piglet squid can...
Posted by: dragonfly | November 6, 2008 6:40 AM