“Some of the animals we have seen on the seafloor and in the water column are just amazing, but the best was this: we were following a cockatoo squid (Cranchiidae), just filming it and watching when all of a sudden it turned its head to the ROV like it was acknowledging we were there and briefly stared at us before turning away,” he writes. In a blog post about his time on the expedition, ROV superintendent Travis Kolbe said glimpsing the bird-like squid was his absolute favourite moment. Yet even after collecting information on a whole variety of bizarre deep-sea animals, like jellyfish and octopuses, the cockatoo squid stood out. The findings from this research will hopefully help scientists better understand the diversity of marine life in this under-explored region, which is on the brink of unprecedented climate change. The mission is to not only collect samples of critters such as the cockatoo squid, but also to observe them in their natural environments. The ROV is part of the Seamounts 2019 expedition. This recent chance encounter with a cockatoo squid was made by a remotely operated vehicle, called the Global Explorer, which was said to be diving along the gulf at a depth of 527 meters (1,729 feet). When its arms and tentacles are folded back over the head, these squid are said to be in ‘ cockatoo posture‘, a peculiar stance that other submersibles have also filmed on occasion. Pretty, huh?įor more from expedition, visit: /j88TzjZt4dĬranchiidae are a family of small glass squids, and while many of these species are clear and translucent, deep-sea cockatoo squids are decked out in colour-creating chromatophores, which can light up with red hues or spots. It’s a cockatoo #squid (Cranchiidae)! Filmed by Global Explorer ROV at 527 m (1,729 ft) depth along Gulf of Alaska continental slope during Gulf of Alaska Seamounts 2019 expedition.
“It’s a cockatoo #squid (Cranchiidae)!” NOAA recently tweeted along with the video. Looking at its face, the bizarre creature somehow looks more like a bird than a fish. Females also sport photophores on the tips of their arms, which may be useful for attracting mates.Deep in the Gulf of Alaska, ocean explorers have filmed an unusual see-through squid with saucer-like eyes, iridescent organs and a bright orange crown. Light-emitting organs, or photophores, around their eyes help them see in the dark and scare away predators. Shape-shifting and camouflage aren’t the only cool tricks up the glass squid’s tentacles.
Scientists have noticed that glass squid release ink into their mantle when threatened, which may help them change color, or could act as a chemical weapon against hungry whales and seabirds.
#COCKATOO SQUID SKIN#
They’re also able to “go dark” by instantly changing the color of their skin to black. If they sense danger, this squid can transform into a lumpy ball by stuffing its bulbous head and tentacles into its mantle cavity. Glass squid-specifically, Chranchia scabra-get a rough reputation because of the small tubercles dotting their bodies (also called their “mantle”). So far, they have been spotted as far down as 2,000 meters (6,600 feet).
#COCKATOO SQUID FULL SIZE#
At four months, glass squid reach full size and are ready for much deeper waters.
Filled with ammonium chloride, a solution that’s lighter than seawater, they float effortlessly through the ocean in search of mates and food.īorn into the light-filled surface waters, juveniles’ transparent bodies may help them blend in with their surroundings. Glass squid spend their lives going with the flow.
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