Idiosepius paradoxus Eating Caprellidae | Pygmy Squid

This Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) has its arms wrapped around its prey, a skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), which is a type of amphipod. Here the skeleton shrimp is clinging to the eelgrass by a single claw, but it eventually succumbed. Pygmy squids use venom to paralyze their prey, then inject digestive enzymes into their food. They ingest the liquified contents and discard the exoskeleton.

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Filename: idiosepius-paradoxus-eating-caprellidae-japan-202104-673.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 6343x4229 / 76.9MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Squid Animalia Mollusca Cephalopoda Ideosepida Idiosepiidae Idiosepius paradoxus Northern Pygmy Squid Japanese Pygmy Squid Hime-ika Skeleton Shrimp Arthropoda Crustacea Malacostraca Amphipoda Caprellidae Ware-kara Seagrass Plantae Traceophytes Alismatales Zosteraceae Zostera marina Eelgrass Amamo Predation Pacific Japan Yamaguchi Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Cephalopods, Marine Life | Japan

This Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) has its arms wrapped around its prey, a skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), which is a type of amphipod. Here the skeleton shrimp is clinging to the eelgrass by a single claw, but it eventually succumbed. Pygmy squids use venom to paralyze their prey, then inject digestive enzymes into their food. They ingest the liquified contents and discard the exoskeleton.