This crazy squid with one huge eye was just spotted glowing in the wild for the first time
MBARI
Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered that under a bright blue light, the normally bright-red and strawberry-looking squid glows an eerie blue. Especially its unique, single giant eye.
This glowing - called bioluminescence - may help animals hide from or distract predators, attract prey, and help make prey easier to spot. This eye catching strawberry squid uses fluorescence to blend in and also to detect prey, according to the video.
The squid, and many other deep sea creatures, use their bioluminescence to light up the underside of their body with a dim glow - a strategy called counter illumination - to disguise themselves from predators below.
Normally a predator would look up and see the dark shadow of the squid blocking the light from the surface. But the glow illuminates the animal to match the light coming from above, effectively rendering it invisible.
Chiswick Chap
That's not the only interesting thing about this squid, though. The eye on the squid's right side is small and the left eye is enormous. Check it out:
MBARI
Here's another shot of the giant eye and glowing skin:
MBARI
If a fish swimming above the squid glows more green than its surroundings, then the squid can spot it easier after its eye filters out the blue light.
Check it out:
MBARI
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