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.