Crystal squid by Amplion on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

This type of cephalopods - a typical planktonic squid, never found near the coast. At Crystal Squid almost transparent body length of up to 15 cm, the tentacles are about a third of the total length. Also, there are a couple of hunting arms, extends to two feet. Hovering in the water column provides broad transparent fins, which, however, are too weak for the animal to resist ocean currents.
This gregarious species of cephalopods, in the pack can be up to several hundred animals. During the day, these squid are practically invisible in the water, only their eyes from time to time sparkle in the sunlight, giving the presence of shellfish. But the night of the invisible, these squid are transformed into wonderfully vivid creatures: they have bodies glow. The whole body is covered with small crystal squid photophores, and at the edges of the fins are very large. Photophores on body glow blue, and the fins - a bright yellowish-white light. This mollusk is lit only at night, when frightened bright flashes. Happy Crystal Squid is not lit, masking of predator: transparency - its only protection for the sake of achieving the squid was gone, even the ink bag.