The deep-sea squid Grimalditeuthis bonplandi (pictured) uses its tentacles to mimic smaller sea creatures, attracting prey.

Credit: MBARI

The animal's tentacle stalks are fragile in comparison to those of most squid, and its tentacle tips lack the suckers or hooks that are usually used to catch and manipulate prey.

Henk-Jan Hoving, then at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, California, and his colleagues analysed videos of seven G. bonplandi recorded by remotely operated submarines, the first observations ever made of the squid in its natural habitat. The creatures moved their tentacles in a manner that resembled the movements of smaller animals such as fish or other cephalopods. The researchers suggest that the motions cause vibrations, water movements or bioluminescence in nearby microorganisms. The squid then consume curious creatures that come to investigate.

Proc. R. Soc. B 280, 20131463 (2013) Footnote 1