Meet Octopoteuthis deletron—the octopus squid 🐙🦑
Unlike most other squids, the octopus squid only has eight arms (like its octopus relatives). Their arms are bioluminescent, with light-producing organs, or photophores, at the end of each arm. The octopus squid also has a fascinating way of protecting itself when threatened by predators. Like a lizard that detaches its tail when attacked, this squid can drop its bioluminescent arm tips, leaving a wiggling arm with a flashing photophore in the grasp of a confused would-be predator. As far as we know, it’s the only squid species to exhibit this unusual defensive behavior.
