The team of the E/V Nautilus, a deep water ocean explorer, spotted an unusual sea creature off the coast of California at a depth of 900 meters (2,950 feet) recently. The scientists who spotted it they are so excited and debate what it is.
One researcher says, “It’s so cute!” Another says, “It looks like some little kid dropped their toy.”
The googly-eyed fish turns out to be a stubby squid (Rossia pacifica). It looks like a cross between an octopus and squid, but is more closely related to cuttlefish.
Stubby squids slink along the seafloor, activating a sticky mucus jacket and burrowing into the sand to camouflage themselves. They leave their eyes out to spot prey like shrimp and small fish. It looks a lot like a cartoon character to me, with its big black and white eyes popping out on its bright purple skin!
Share this interesting species with your family and friends!
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