Earlier this week, scientists from the research ship E/V Nautilus posted a video of what cyberspace is now calling the world’s most adorable squid. With a bright purple body, staring googly-eyes and a comically bemused expression, the tiny cephalopod looks like an extra from SpongeBob Squarepants.
The scientists discovered the cartoon-like creature during a research expedition off the coast of southern California. The researchers aboard were using an underwater rover equipped with bright lights to scan the seafloor, and at a depth of some 2,950 feet (900 m), they stumbled upon the cute-looking creature. As the footage of their discovery shows, the scientists were unable to contain their awe and amusement as they zoomed in on the animal, exclaiming that “its eyes look like they have been painted on,” that “it looks fake” and that “it looks like a little kid dropped their toy.”
The scientists debated over whether the find was an octopus or a cuttlefish, eventually dubbing it a “cuddle-fish.” Afterward, the team identified the animal as a stubby squid (Rossia pacifica), a member of the bobtail squid family native to the northern Pacific Ocean. Stubby squid typically grow to a maximum of 4.3 inches (11 cm) including their tentacles, and spend the winter evading strong currents by sticking to relatively shallow water. In summer, the squid move into deeper water to breed. Their offspring are miniature versions of the adults — just imagine how cute they must be!
Stubby squid are nocturnal, and (like the specimen in the video) spend most of their lives on the seafloor. They often submerge themselves so that only their eyes protrude from the sand, and they prey predominantly on small shrimp. When disturbed, they are capable of excreting a cloud of black ink. Despite the squid’s misleading name, the scientists that thought it was a cuttlefish were actually near the mark. Stubby squid are more closely related to cuttlefish than they are to either squid or octopus. However, they lack the gas-filled cuttlebone that would identify them as true cuttlefish.
The stubby squid is just one of many fascinating sights recorded by the E/V Nautilus. The ship is currently nearing the completion of a 3-and-1/2-month expedition along the west coast of North America. They have been broadcasting live streams of their trip on their website, giving viewers the chance to be a part of other incredible finds, including a mysterious purple orb and a sunken whale carcass. The Ocean Exploration Trust, an initiative founded in 2008 by Titanic-discoverer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Robert Ballard, operates the research vessel.
