Vampire squid

The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis, lit. 'vampire squid from hell') is a small <a href="/facts/Cephalopod/80GlMxHG">cephalopod</a> found throughout temperate and tropical oceans in extreme <a href="/facts/Deep_sea/c88zdYul">deep sea</a> conditions. The vampire squid uses its <a href="/facts/Bioluminescence/IlzgyV4E">bioluminescent</a> organs and its unique oxygen metabolism to thrive in the parts of the ocean with the lowest concentrations of oxygen. It has two long retractile filaments, located between the first two pairs of arms on its dorsal side, which distinguish it from both <a href="/facts/Octopus/z5uokKFF">octopuses</a> and <a href="/facts/Squid/wFXpcNUf">squids</a>, and places it in its own order, <a href="/facts/Vampyromorphida/sJcQ2Jme">Vampyromorphida</a>, although its closest relatives are octopods. As a <a href="/facts/Phylogeny/f5vVEpeY">phylogenetic</a> <a href="/facts/Relict_(biology)/eH1gkAg3">relict</a>, it is the only known surviving member of its order.
The first specimens were collected on the <a href="/facts/Valdivia_Expedition/e6CL2FWt">Valdivia Expedition</a> and were originally <a href="/facts/Species_description/JyFpxSvJ">described</a> as an octopus in 1903 by German <a href="/facts/Teuthology/4I0k6SLR">teuthologist</a> <a href="/facts/Carl_Chun/Q32ksg4z">Carl Chun</a>, but later assigned to a new order together with several extinct <a href="/facts/Taxon/caQC1e87">taxa</a>.

Vampire squid open-in-new

Vampire squid