This one is weirder than usual for cephs. Helicocrancchia pfefferi – the piglet squid.
The name of this wee beastie comes from the funny location of its siphon in relation to its eyes and from the wild, hair like looking tuft of 8 arms and 10 tentacles and its habit of inflating its body up water. They are the size of a small orange and are found in virtually all oceans at depths greater than 100 meters. Very little is known about their biology, though its been observed from submersibles swimming sluggishly in a head down orientation. H. pfefferi’s body fluid contains ammonium ions that help keep it boyant, and it has a large photophore, a light producing organ, beneath each of its large eyes. This one was collected by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium off the coast of California near the island of Catalina during a twice yearly class to educate the public about planktonic animals.
