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
- diet
- Carnivorous (small crustaceans, shrimp, and small fish)
- family
- Sepiolidae
- threats
- Light pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change
- life Span
- 3 to 10 months
NE
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- 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.