WHATSTHATFISH
Octopus & squid

Warty Bobtail Squid

Rossia palpebrosa

Also known as: Bobtail Squid, Pygmy Squid, Rossie Squid

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@Annieb · Dalgety Bay, Scotland, United Kingdom · March 20151 / 1
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Overview

Found buried in the sand, on muck bottoms with just their eyes showing, in bays and fiords of the oceans, often at great depths. These squid have a glue gland on their backs, so they can cover themselves in sand for camouflage. There is also a light organ in their bellies, that hosts bioluminescent bacteria which produces the iridescent colours.
They feed nocturnally on small crustaceans, fish and smaller squid.

Some of the smallest squids, they can change colour when predators come near.

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How to identify

Pattern
spots
Body shape
tentacleswarts

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Atlantic Ocean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found buried in the sand, on muck bottoms with just their eyes showing, in bays and fiords of the oceans, often at great depths.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumMollusca
    3. classCephalopoda
    4. orderSepiolida
    5. familySepiolidae
    6. genusRossia
    7. speciesRossia palpebrosa Owen, 1835

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Sepiolida