Body to 4.5cm. Fins on the end of the body. Covered in a red-brown to silvery skin. This is thought to be a schooling squid and has an unusual light organ which faces up rather than down which is more usual in deep water animals. When startled the animal retracts its head and tentancles into the mantle covering them with two pointed flaps above and below the head.

Rarely seen as this animal lives deep in the ocean far from land. During the day the squid lives at depths of 550 - 1 000 m and coming up to about 100 - 200m at night to feed.

Predator

It is thought to live for 18 - 20 months. The spiral shell often washes up and is mistaken for a snail shell or worm tube.

Cephalopods a world guide: Norman