Friday Cephalopod: Cute as a bug's ear

What's the function of those ear/fins? They do not seem very hydrodinamical.

Long time reader, first time poster.

That picture's got "cute critters calendar" written all over it.

By the pricking of my thumbs, something squiddy this way comes...

How about a "Pharyngula Cephalopod Calendar"?

January: Humboldt Squid...
February: Blue ringed octopus...
March: Giant Squid...
April: Common Octopus...

and so on...

which month would be pz's nipple?

sorry, sorry, I just got back from lunch with a nice wine (hey! this is france) and couldn't resist...

It looks more like a cirrate octopus than a squid.

THe 'ears' are used as flippers, Didac. Just like on Dumbo the Elephant. Seriously.

Reminds me a lot of the Dumbo Octopus seen by (Alvin?) some years ago.

Looks like a transparent vampyroteuthis.

Thanks, Drhoz! So, the figure of Grimpoteuthis must truly be understood as a Dumbo Squid (or Dumbo Octopus?).

Reminds me of the part in Dumbo where Dumbo got drunk and started hallucinating.

Only cooler.

I saw this blue beauty on someone's flickr page... my new desktop background.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wj4id/401261252/

awww... I always love the Friday Cephalopod.

What is it exactly that makes me look at something like this a perceive it as "cute"? If "beauty" is symmetry, what is "cute"?

You sure do post some amazing creatures, PZ. I always look forward to your Friday Cephalopod post!

More images from The Deep at: http://www.thedeepbook.org/

The Friday Cephalopod is my favourite part of this blog.

What's the function of those ear/fins? They do not seem very hydrodinamical.

Thanks, Drhoz! So, the figure of Grimpoteuthis must truly be understood as a Dumbo Squid (or Dumbo Octopus?).