Ancistrocheirus lesueuri | Sharpear Enope Squid

This is a dead mature female Ancistrocheirus lesueuri squid, which is a mesopelagic cephalopod living in the range of 200 to 1000 meters depth. This specimen was found at the surface, floating upside down as pictured here. There are photophores visible on the ventral surface (facing up) and hooks on both clubs of the feeding tentacles. This squid is an important part of the diet of sperm whales in the southern hemisphere. There were many sperm whales in the area when this was photographed. This species is ammoniacal, meaning it stores ammonia ions in the arms, head and mantle tissue for buoyancy. Why this specimen would only float upside-down is unclear. Perhaps the ammonia (which is lighter than sea water) was the cause. This specimen was 40cm to 45cm.

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Filename: ancistrocheirus-lesueuri-sharpear-enope-squid-sri-lanka-201502-1409.tif
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Image Size: 5133x3422 / 50.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Cephalopod Squid Animalia Mollusca Cephalopoda Coleoidea Teuthida Oegopsina Ancistrocheiridae Ancistrocheirus lesueuri Sharpear Enope Squid Indian Ocean Sri Lanka Deep Ocean Deepwater
Contained in galleries: Marine Life | Sri Lanka, Cephalopods, Sperm Whales

This is a dead mature female Ancistrocheirus lesueuri squid, which is a mesopelagic cephalopod living in the range of 200 to 1000 meters depth. This specimen was found at the surface, floating upside down as pictured here. There are photophores visible on the ventral surface (facing up) and hooks on both clubs of the feeding tentacles. This squid is an important part of the diet of sperm whales in the southern hemisphere. There were many sperm whales in the area when this was photographed. This species is ammoniacal, meaning it stores ammonia ions in the arms, head and mantle tissue for buoyancy. Why this specimen would only float upside-down is unclear. Perhaps the ammonia (which is lighter than sea water) was the cause. This specimen was 40cm to 45cm.