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Scientific classification: Vampyroteuthis infernalis
KingDOM: Animalia
pHYLUM: Mollusca
cLASS: Cephalopoda
Order:Vampyromorphida
fAMILY: Vampyroteuthis
gENUS: Vampyroteuthis
SPECIES: V. infernalis
Environment:
example of a deep-sea cephalopod and can be in depths from 600 to 900 meters or
more, which is known as the oxygen minimum zone. It is found in the deepest oceans of
the world with the most tropical and temperate regions. The vampire squid is able to
breathe and live normally in the minimum zone of oxygen at saturation as low as 3%,
natural environment. In order for the squid to live in suffocating depths, they develop
several adaptations. This includes their metabolic rate which is the lowest of all
deep-sea cephalopods, their blue blood hemocyanin binds transport oxygen more than
others as well.
Physical appearance:
The vampire squid is around 30 cm and has a variety of colors including jet black
to pale reddish, depending on the location and lighting conditions. The vampire squid is
not an octopus neither a squid, scientists have categorized it as its own group. Its
webbing skin is connected to eight arms which are lined with rows of fleshy spines and
the inner side of its cloak is black. Its limpid, globular eyes either appear red or blue
depending on lighting, are the largest in the animal kingdom at 2.5 cm. Its name is
inspired by its dark color, coak webbing, and red eyes. Mature adults have a pair of
small fins that project the lateral sides of the mantle, these fins serve as the adults
The vampire squid moves through water by flapping its fins and their beak-like
jaws are white. It is also almost covered entirely in light-producing organs called
photophores, the photophores are larger and complex at the tips of the arms and at the
base of the two fins but are absent from the undersides of the caped arms.
Survival
It has not been exactly determined what the vampire squid eats, but it uses
thread-like filaments to capture bits of organic debris that sink down from the ocean
surface into the deep sea and only eat a couple times a week due to their low
metabolism but their jaws are extremely powerful. It can also be difficult to find food due
to its habitat. Young vampire squids do not eat for the first few weeks of their lives
because they are born with internal reserves of energy which is a type of yolk. Since the
organism lives in the deep waters of the ocean, it has very few predators. Some few
predators do include deep diving fishes, pinnipeds, whales, and benthopelagic fishes.
Reproduction
Vampire squids have internal fertilization, the male ejects sperm cells into the
females sac and the female releases eggs and cares for them until they hatch. The
gestation period usually lasts 13 months, the female does not eat during incubation and
Survivability of organism
Due to the warming of the ocean, pollution and destruction of natural habitats
negatively affect the number of remaining squids in the ocean. There has not been
much evidence found about the survivability of the vampire squid but they are
considered an ancient organism since it has been around for about 300 million years.
Humans do not hunt them since they are found in such deep oceans but they are taken
Special features
The vampire squid lacks ink sacs if the squid is disturbed it curls up its arms up
outwards and wraps them around its body turning itself inside out and exposing spiny
that contains innumerable orbs of blue light from the arm tips. This serves to daze out
Vampire squids are known for their high intelligence because they can create
geometrical patterns on the ocean floor. They are also known for flying very fast through
the water.
Fun facts:
- Its scientific name Vampyroteuthis infernalis means “vampire squid from hell”
- It has a lifespan of up to 8 years while other squids or octopus don't live beyond 1
- Vampire squids were discovered in the 20th century but have been around for
Photographs/diagrams:
Work cited
Oceana, “Vampire Squid”, N.D,
http://oceana.org/marine-life/cephalopods-crustaceans-other-shellfish/vampire-squid
Kim Reisenbichler, National Geographic, “Deep Sea Creatures Photos”, November 16,
2009.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/photos/deep-sea-creatures/