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Squid, Rams Horn

Spirula spirula

Invertebrate

Mollusca

Cephalopoda

Spirulidae

Open Water Offshore
Open Water Offshore

Feeding:
Predator
Predator
Distribution:
Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
Edibility:
Unknown Edibility
Unknown Edibility
Size:
Coin Sized
Coin Sized



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