How'd it get that name?
The vampire squid gets its name because it drains the blood of its prey completely before consuming it!
Just kidding. In fact, the vampire squid isn't even carnivorous. The name comes from a behavior exhibited when the creature feels threatened. When the vampire squid feels threatened, it inverts its tentacles over its head, making it appear as though it is wearing a barbed cape.
How do they behave?
Unlike the mythological creatures they are named for, vampire squids are not very aggressive. They spend most of their time floating around serenely and eating what is called "marine snow." Marine snow is basically a floating collection of sediment in the ocean made up of dust, mucous, and dead organisms. They have long, tentacle like appendages which they stretch out in order to "fish" for their food.
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| Screenshot from The Biological Bulletin All Rights Reserved |
Could I go see one?
Unfortunately, vampire squids do not survive long when kept in captivity. They tend to die within a few months, so scientists do not know very much about them.
In Conclusion:
In conclusion, vampire squids are possibly the least spooky animals in the ocean. In spite of this, their peaceful demeanor and efficient ways of life are rather enchanting, not to mention their lovely red bodies and brilliantly blue eyes. They aren't scary, but they are certainly worth understanding!
References:
Fulton-Bennet, K. (2012). MBARI researchers discover what vampire squids eat. MBARI News Release.
When I was younger, I use to be obsessed with the ocean. I was convinced that one day I would be a marine biologist. All over my room, you would see little glass and ceramic figurines of dolphins, turtles, whales, and any other sea creature that I could convince my parents to buy for me. I loved that you did a “Halloween” themed sea creature, but I would of liked to see a picture of what they really look like. I know you mentioned that they have a barbed cape as a defense mechanism; do they have any others defense tactics? Where do they tend to live?
ReplyDeleteI love your blog posts. I especially like how you section out all of the categories into questions and you provide clear and concise answers. The idea of doing a Halloween theme is clever and cute which also reminds your readers that you keep up-to-date with the blog as well. I would appreciate pictures too, as a reader I can see what you're saying instead of simply reading about them. Adding the pictures will add more color and personality to the blog posts and also make your readers stay longer on a page to admire the pictures as well. Otherwise great job!
ReplyDelete--Vienna Le