"When you go deep in the sea today, you'll be in for a big surprise..."

BBC article (with video) here. Not big as squid go, but still an impressive display, esp. if you are its intended lunch.

"The Dana squid has all the tools of a top ocean predator, including a pair of brilliant "headlights" it flashes at the moment it goes in for the kill.

They are intended to dazzle the prey, to make the victim freeze for those few moments longer until it can be captured in a death embrace.

Scientists have just filmed this rare squid in full attack mode, on a research cruise in the central Pacific.

It was about 1,000m below the surface, where conditions are near pitch black.

Those headlights, on the ends of two of its arms, are more properly called photophores - organs that react a mix of substances with oxygen to emit light. It is a classic example of bioluminescence..."

Slowed-down, narrated video from the Univ. of W. Australia here.

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

Just amazing!

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No baby we aint

I've had a predator flash it's "attack headlights" at me. Luckily, she was so drunk it was easy to avoid her.

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The best I can with what I got

When I read stories like this, I am reminded of this line from Hamlet:



(taken from my 1793 complete edition of Shakespeare)

Attached Images

Quote from Hamlet .jpg (19.0 KB, 221 views)

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

Were there beads involved?

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50 Years of DSOTM

In my case, no. No bait. It was an unprovoked attack.

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The best I can with what I got

I love beer battered fried calamari. Yum!!!
Over 6' long... That rascal would feed a bunch of our members. Too bad it got away.

I've said this before: You catch it, I'll cook it!

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"I also cook."

I think this comment may well eciipse the original story!

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

Wow! Not sure if it’s just me, but those headlights are really not necessary to “dazzle” me while being attacked by that creature. I think I’d be all dazzled out at the sight of a 7 foot freaking squid coming at me with those giant eyeballs, tentacles and gaping mouth about to swallow me… Yikes!

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NRA Life Member

I didn't know squid had headlights. Both squid and octopuses are extremely unusual animals having such unique intelligence, capabilities, and genetics (they can actually alter their own genes) that it is possible that they may be aliens that originally came from another part of the universe. There are at least 300 known species of octopuses. And possibly considerably more to be discovered. Octopuses use a very different form of sexual reproduction, and the female dies after her one and only "litter."

DWalt, you KNOW there are aliens all around us, right?

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There's a Monster on the loose

Although this may reinforce the image that people out here on the West Coast are a little flaky, you might appreciate this recent story (Incliudes video.)

Like an underwater puppy': B.C. woman forms lasting friendship with octopus

...Their friendship intensified recently after Catherine felt compelled to return Baby’s embrace by gently stroking its head. “It wasn’t gooey or slimey or yucky,” Catherine smiles. “It felt like a dry Swiffer mop!”...

(Cue The Beatles singing,'"Octopus's Garden")

Here's just the video:

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

There is an octopus documentary on Netflix that is worthwhile viewing. They are unbelievable sea creatures that come in a very wide range of sizes according to their species, and all are highly intelligent. They are capable of delivering a venomous bite but very seldom do. Different tentacles perform different functions, some are for movement, others are for grasping and manipulation, somewhat like humans have feet and hands. And they seem to like humans.

One sourde mentions near 2 meters (6 feet)

Second source ( with the slow motion video)
says approximately 75 centimeters (about 30 inches)

Rare deep-sea squid filmed at depth

Bekeart
Resident Cynic

Spooky as hell watching it come in for a landing watching the tentacles spread and that twin fin opening up like Bela Lugosi's cape.