 
Piglet Squid
About the size of a small avocado, this squid is common in the deep water of virtually all oceans. It is named piglet squid because of its habit of filling up with water and the unique location of its siphon with a wild-looking tuft of eight arms and two tenticles.
Its body is almost totally clear that reveals the dark-colored internal organs. Look closely and you can also see the feather-like gills. Pigment organs dot the surface of the skin and a row of these "chromotophores" provide a smile-like look. The piglet squid is a sluggish swimmer with ammonium ions in its body fluid that helps keep it bouyant. A large light-producing organ (photophore) is located beneath each of its large eyes.
This squid was caught during one of our public programs using an Isaacs-Kidd Midwater Trawl net during the summer of 2006. The squid is preserved and was added to our specimen collection for future study.
Post Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009
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