October 31, 2013

What Do Vampire Squid Really Eat? Hint: It’s Not Blood

Oxygen-poor zones are not just found off the coast of South America, as we saw last time. “Oxygen minimum zones” may occur throughout the world’s ocean’s at mid-water depths where food consumption is high but supplies of oxygen are low.

By Jennifer Frazer

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Waters nearly devoid of oxygen are not just found off the coast of South America, as we saw last time. "Oxygen minimum zones" may occur throughout the world's ocean's at mid-water depths where food consumption is high but supplies of oxygen are low. Although, as I mentioned last time, such waters are dead zones for many animals, many is not all. The vampire squid is one animal for whom this is not the case. In honor of Halloween, here's a video from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to describe what this fearsome-looking cephalopod -- whose latin name, Vampyroteuthis infernalis means "vampire squid from hell" -- was recently discovered to actually eat. I was surprised.

And here's a video with a slightly spookier tone from David Attenborough that covers another spectral aspect of their deep-sea lifestyle. Happy Halloween!

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