Luminous Bay Squid
This species is very tolerant of low salinities allowing it to forage in estuaries and brackish water.
Identification
The Luminous Bay Squid is squat in shape with large dark spots, and yellow and pink chromatophores on the margins of the fins and mantle. Their internal shell (gladius) is leaf shaped. The large fins of this squid, half the length of the body, form a heart shape. Uroteuthis noctiluca differ from other members of the genus in they have a pair of bacterial light organs on their ink sac.
Habitat
U. noctiluca inhabits inshore waters, typically in bays and estuaries. They are manly found amongst seagrass in areas up to 50m deep.
Distribution
Found along the eastern coastline of Australia, from the tropics to cool temperate waters.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The pair of light organs found within its mantle cavity are fuelled by luminescent bacteria it obtains from the water column. The light generated is used to hide the squid’s silhouette from below.
References
- Norman, M., (2000) Cephalopods- A World Guide, ConchBooks, Germany (Hackenheim)
- Norman, M & A. Reid., (2000) A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopuses of Australasia, CSIRO Publishing, Victoria (Collingwood)
