I Squid You Not: Adorable Video of the Day!

I Squid You Not: Adorable Video of the Day! These baby cephalopods, called paralarvae, are as tiny as a grain of rice.

Chromatophores are those little jewels embedded in their opalescent bodies. Adults can control their color to break up their outline and confuse predators…or, attract a mate.

Jet Propulsion is the technical term for their swimming motion! The babies suck water into the main body cavity (mantle) and squirt it out as a siphon. The two flaps are fins that act as rudder.

The Vancouver Aquarium successfully reared 400 of these in March. Just like any baby, these little ones had to be constantly fed and watched over!

Source: http://www.aquablog.ca/2012/05/its-the-size-of-a-grain-of-rice-i-squid-you-not-2/

#sciencesunday #scienceeveryday

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43 Responses to I Squid You Not: Adorable Video of the Day!

  1. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL, thanks…keeping count of all the expressions of cuteness that show up here ٩◔‿◔۶.

  2. mary Zeman says:


    Rajini Rao I probably should have said Squeeeeeeed!


  3. Quite simply enchanting!


    Another winner Rajini ……. and a classy one.


  4. Wasn’t that umbrella like action that enabled forward movement? Pardon my ignorance.

  5. Rajini Rao says:


    Yes, R Prakash Prakash , the umbrella movement is the way water is taken in for the jetting movement. To quote, “jetting, involves (1) radial expansion of the mantle, resulting in the inflow of water into the mantle cavity through anterior intakes, followed by (2) the contraction of circular muscles in the mantle, which increases the pressure in the mantle cavity, closes valves on the intake slots and drives water out of the mantle cavity via the funnel (Fig. 1). This pattern is repeated to produce a pulsed jet.”.


    See this free paper and Fig 1 for details: http://jeb.biologists.org/content/212/10/1506.long


  6. Why I said was it is mentioned that the swimming motion is called Jet Propulsion, with water getting sucked from one end and squirting out from the other. It didn’t look like that to me.

  7. Rajini Rao says:


    This 3:30 min video is a nice watch… I was blown away! Cuttlefish changes colors like chess!

  8. Rajini Rao says:


    Gnotic Pasta , I noticed it too … interpreted it as a baby tickling 🙂 (I saw some mechanical disturbance in the water just before, if I recall…)

  9. Rajini Rao says:


    Umm.. Gnotic Pasta , I wish I had not googled “cthulhu cuttlefish”. It refers to something R-rated in the top ranked search result. Perhaps Mahesh Sreekandath knows more about “Oderus Urungus”.

  10. Rajini Rao says:


    Don’t, I’ll spare you. I thought I would find the inspiration behind Cthulhu but apparently this metal dude has a song of that name or some thing. I shall leave well alone. 😛

  11. Kawthar A says:


    That’s a great post! i enjoyed it 🙂

  12. Ravi Teja says:


    I can’t decide, If this is scary or cute…


    Since it’s tiny, I’ll go with cute..


    Rajini Rao He was probably referring to a song by Metallica called Call Of Cthulhu, It’s an instrumental..

  13. Ravi Teja says:


    Oderus Urungus, played by Dave Brockie, is the lead vocalist of the Metal band Gwar. He appears as an intergalactic humanoid barbarian with devil horns and a …


    He’s cute, someone might find him attractive..

  14. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL, Ravi Teja …. indeed 🙂


    As for his being cute, let’s just say that paralarvae are prettier.

  15. Rajini Rao says:


    I’m relieved to hear that no links to Mr. Urungus or his cephalopod appendage will be forthcoming. Thanks, Mahesh Sreekandath 🙂

  16. Rajini Rao says:


    How’s Towel Day going, Feisal Kamil ? 🙂

  17. Rajini Rao says:


    Feisal Kamil At least it’s the weekend coming up. No worries for the future er.. “squid jiggling” post, I am now armed with laser weed killer. 🙂

  18. Rajini Rao says:


    Where..where? Wait, was the towel an accessory or the outfit?

  19. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL, the original BATHMAN!!!

  20. Rajini Rao says:


    Finally, a chance for Harem Van Dan to get back at Feisal Kamil 😉

  21. Kawthar A says:


    Ah ha!!! now i know what did you mean by towel day!! O_o

  22. Kawthar A says:


    Do you think i should give that title to Feisal!? Rajini Rao 😉

  23. Kawthar A says:


    lol!! i know Fiesal 😀 Feisal Kamil

  24. Kawthar A says:


    Yes Feisal, it was better to admit it & tell us what do you mean exactly by towel day, and i was the whole day reading about it & making some searches O_o no need for excuses next time, ok!? 😀 Feisal Kamil

  25. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL, Towel Day as a thinly veiled excuse for Feisal Kamil to go free….

  26. Kawthar A says:


    Have you just changed your profile picture!? O_o Feisal Kamil LOL!

  27. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL! I got a notification and ignored it because it was some strange guy in the avatar…going back for another look thanks to Kawthar AL ABDALLA !

  28. Kawthar A says:


    LOL!!! same here! i had to take another look at it 😀 Rajini Rao

  29. Rajini Rao says:


    Your new avatar shows up in my notifications (pull down screen), but not in this comment stream..yet 🙂


  30. Yet another one of those “how come aliens are always depicted as humanoid?” sorts of things. 😀

  31. Rajini Rao says:


    Kimberly Chapman , do you mean the cephalopods or the metal head or Feisal’s new avatar..this thread has me confused, please be patient and explain 🙂


  32. I meant the cephalopods. 😀

  33. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL, these people have me confused…


  34. As usual you make your posts soooo interesting (and cute) :)) Thanks Rajini Rao

  35. Ravi Teja says:


    hi rajini, i learn more things from your posts.

  36. Rajini Rao says:


    Thanks, Ravi Teja 🙂

  37. Rajini Rao says:


    Is your weekly digest out, Mark Bruce ? I was looking for it yesterday.

  38. Rajini Rao says:


    Checking it out, thanks.. and Congratulations!! 🙂 🙂

  39. Rajini Rao says:


    Dan Bowden I took a lichen pix on a hike in the Catoctin Mtns. (northern Maryland)..it’s probably quite ordinary. Would you take a shot at identifying it?

  40. Rajini Rao says:


    Just did, thanks Dan Bowden .


  41. Interesting.  I’m surprised they’re not poisonous.  It seems like many of the smallest creatures, especially those found in the ocean, can kill you.

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