Your Asymmetrical Face is Normal: The Adaptations of the Strawberry Squid
Summary
The strawberry squid is a deep ocean creature with one tiny eye and one huge eye, which is an adaptation to enable the squid to hunt prey from above and below. The squid also has a glowing trick to match the light coming from above, which makes it nearly invisible to anything watching below.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is the Strawberry Squid?
- Why is the Strawberry Squid’s Face Asymmetric?
- How Does the Strawberry Squid Hunt?
- What is the Strawberry Squid’s Glowing Trick?
- How Does the Strawberry Squid’s Eye Glow Help It Hunt?
- Conclusion
Introduction
The vastness of the deep sea remains a mystery to us, and the creatures that live there with adaptations we could never imagine. The strawberry squid is one of these creatures, with its unique and fascinating adaptations that help it survive in the harsh deep sea environment. In this article, we will explore the strawberry squid’s asymmetric face and how it helps the creature in its hunt for food.
What is the Strawberry Squid?
The strawberry squid, scientifically known as Histioteuthis hoylei, is a small deep-sea squid that grows up to 11 centimeters in length. It is appropriately named due to its red-colored body and the strawberry-like pits on its skin. It is also known for its unique asymmetric face with one tiny eye and one huge eye.
Why is the Strawberry Squid’s Face Asymmetric?
The strawberry squid’s asymmetric face is a brilliant adaptation to life in the deep ocean. The creature hunts food both above and below it. The big eye on one side of its face looks up, scanning for creatures casting silhouettes against the dim blue light filtering down from the surface. The itty bitty eye on the other side of its face points down, hunting for critters using bioluminescence to communicate.
How Does the Strawberry Squid Hunt?
The strawberry squid’s unique asymmetric face allows it to catch prey both above and below it. Its two different eyes handle two different types of hunting, making it an extremely efficient predator. The squid’s large eye helps it catch prey that casts a silhouette against the dim light coming from the surface of the ocean. The small eye helps to detect prey that uses bioluminescence as a form of communication.
What is the Strawberry Squid’s Glowing Trick?
The strawberry squid, like many deep-sea creatures, glows in the dark. Instead of producing the light from the strawberry-like pits on its skin, it emits light from the underside of its body. This remarkable feature makes it nearly invisible to predators that are watching from below.
How Does the Strawberry Squid’s Eye Glow Help It Hunt?
The strawberry squid’s glowing trick is a type of camouflage known as counter-illumination. By matching the light coming from above, the squid can render itself nearly invisible to anything watching from below. However, the prey the squid hunts often use the same counter-illumination technique. This is where the strawberry squid’s large yellow eye comes in handy. The eye absorbs more blue light, allowing the prey to match the color of the surrounding light, making it difficult to detect. If the prey’s counter-illumination is too green compared to the blue light above, it will stand out. Thus, the all-seeing eye of the deep, like the eye of Sauron, is always watching, adapting, and remaining an efficient hunter.
Conclusion
The strawberry squid’s asymmetric face is just one of its fascinating adaptations to life in the deep ocean. The squid’s ability to hunt both above and below it, as well as its glowing tricks, make it an efficient predator. The next time you feel self-conscious about your asymmetric face, remember that the strawberry squid is proof that asymmetry can be a valuable adaptation.
