The bobtail squid is a small and cute little creature that can grow up to the size of two inches. Here in Malapascua and around the world’s ocean we find this tiny animal in shallow coastal water at night. When the sun is up the bobtail squid will hide and sleep in the sand and at night it will come out to hunt. What is so special about this creature is that it has glowing bacteria on its underbelly. These will mimic the moonlight and essentially eliminate its own shadow to avoid detection by its predators. The squid has a special light organ in its mantle where it hides the bacteria that make the creature glow in the dark. The squid will provide this organ with sugar and amino acid solution through food. The bobtail squid will use filters from this organ to adjust the brightness of the bacteria to match the moon, using the light as an invisibility cloak. Pretty impressive stuff!
The way the bacteria and the bobtail squid interact with each other and activate its glowing is called quorum sensing. Bobtail squid have been involved in research to help figure out how to keep astronauts healthy in space. Scientist believe that if we can figure out how it works and use it ourselves we can get better at fighting illnesses or perhaps even use it for new camouflage techniques.
Wouldn’t you love to be invisible, or at the least see the magical bobtail squid? Drop by Evolution and we’ll be sure to show you one on your night dive.
