Species
A collection of animal species from around the world.
*Sources for information and photos (unless they are by me) can be found at the bottom of each species profile.
Japanese Pygmy Squid
The Japanese pygmy squid — one of the world’s smallest cephalopods with a mantle length of just 16 mm (0.6 in) — hunts crustaceans up to twice its size. It paralyses them, then slips its mouthparts inside their exoskeletons to slurp out their insides, leaving their shells intact.
Pacific Blackdragon
A female Pacific blackdragon is ~60 cm (2 ft) long and uses a bioluminescent lure on her chin to attract prey. Her skin is 'ultra-black', among the darkest in nature, and her teeth are anti-reflective, so as not to reflect light from her lure and alert her prey. The male is only ~8 cm (3 in) long.
Coconut Octopus
The coconut octopus carries seashells or coconut shells beneath its arms as it travels — using a few of its arms to hold the shells and the others to walk awkwardly along the sea floor. If this octopus encounters danger, it assembles the shells around itself, forming a kind of armour.