Deep-Sea Squid Detach Arms When Faced With Predators or Prey

Squid detaching arm

Researcher Stephanie Bush recently observed Octopoteuthis deletron deep-sea squid detaching their arms when faced with predators or prey (video). The bizarre behavior is not unknown in the animal world (lizards and octopus are known to jettison limbs), but it is a first for squid. Octopoteuthis deletron are full of surprises—last fall researchers reported same-sex sexual behavior in the little squid.

via ScienceNOW & io9

video by Stephanie Bush

E.D.W. Lynch
E.D.W. Lynch

Writer and humor generalist on the Internet and on Facebook.