Species · GBIF taxon 2289092
Hawaiian Bobtail Squid
Euprymna scolopesAlso known as Hawaiian Squid, Bobtail Squid
Hawaiian bobtail squid spend their days buried in the sand, emerging at night to hunt in shallow reef flats. They maintain a remarkable symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria housed in a specialized light organ, which they use for counterillumination camouflage to mask their silhouette from predators below. This tiny cephalopod actively regulates the brightness of its bacterial partners to match the intensity of the moonlight filtering down through the water.
NocturnalBioluminescentMarine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mysid shrimp
- Copepods
- Small crabs
Predators
- Monk seals
- Eels
- Predatory reef fish
ThreatsLight pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change
HabitatsShallow coastal waters, sand flats, and coral reefs
Life span3 to 10 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySepiolidae
- SpeciesEuprymna scolopes
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Spotting: Search shallow sandy flats with a red-filtered flashlight during low tide at night.
- Minimize Light: Avoid shining bright white lights directly at them to prevent disrupting their natural camouflage.
- Watch the Sand: Look for tiny, dual-spouted disturbances in the sand where they bury themselves during the day.
Image unavailableSymbiotic Partner Close Relative 
Distant Relative Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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