Squid with different eyes surprises scientists at the bottom of the sea

A squid with different eyes – one very large yellowish and the other very small and black – was spotted on a tour of the Drone Controlled by scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), in California. The animal is called “strawberry squid” (Histioteuthis heteropsis) and while it is not necessarily “rare”, it is still uncommon.

The encounter took place in late March, near Monterey Canyon—a very deep area on the California coast that, by comparison, is roughly the size of the Grand Canyon near Las Vegas—just underwater. This volume ends up as home to a very diverse biodiversity.

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“We see them quite often—maybe once every four dives.” Bruce Robinson, chief scientist at MBARI, who was not on the expedition, said:

According to the information published, the diving team was in control of a drone called “Doc Ricketts”, which has a relatively small size but is well-equipped 4K cameraFor underwater photography, in ultra-clear quality.

Strawberry squid with different eyes is not the largest – according to the institute, the maximum reaches 13 centimeters (cm). It can be found at a depth of 720 meters (m) in tropical waters.

Eyes are not derived from any genetic abnormalityrather a hunting tool: the strawberry squid uses its larger eye to observe areas above it: prey that shades in the light can be captured at sea level, while the smaller eye is adapted to see better in the dark and to hunt for signs of bioluminescence – the natural ability of some organisms to produce their own light.

However, they are not born that way: when young, these squid have perfectly symmetrical eyes – one of which is that they “jump” and double in size when they reach adulthood.

Moreover, its intense red color actually helps it camouflage in the ocean: the institute’s team explained that red light does not go down to the sea floor, so the animal’s natural color hides it from predators. Moreover, the black dots on its body are called “photophosphors,” and they produce light that mimics ambient light, enhancing its ability to become invisible.

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