This new squid species is adorably tiny

by | Feb 23, 2018 | Advanced Aquarist | 0 comments


This new squid species is adorably tiny


An Idiosepius hallami “glues” itself to a blade of sea grass. Image credit: Mandy Reid

Idiosepius sp. have a special glue gland on the upper body that the squid may use to glue itself to the underside of seagrasses and seaweeds while they rest or hunt.  Without this natural adhesive, these tiny squids would be swept away by the gentlest of currents.

Pygmy squids are predators that hunt small crustaceans such as mysids and ampiphods.  For a squid this small, a single amphipod is already a huge meal.

As with other squids, I. hallami are loaded with chromatophores that allow them to change colors.

The new squid is described in the journal Zootaxa.

Idiosepius_hallami.jpg

  • Leonard Ho

    I'm a passionate aquarist of over 30 years, a coral reef lover, and the blog editor for Advanced Aquarist. While aquarium gadgets interest me, it's really livestock (especially fish), artistry of aquariums, and "method behind the madness" processes that captivate my attention.

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