Bioluminescent Detection May Be the Key to Colossal Squid Hunting Strategy

The colossal squid likely hunts not by sight alone, but by reading flashes of living light in total darkness.

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Research suggests that the squid's eye size is optimized specifically for detecting sperm whales approaching from below.

In deep Antarctic waters, many organisms emit bioluminescent light. Scientists propose that the squid's massive eyes are adapted to detect disturbances in this light field caused by large moving prey.

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Rather than chasing prey over long distances, the squid may rely on ambush tactics. Detecting faint shifts in glowing plankton clouds allows it to identify targets without revealing its own position.

This strategy reflects a broader evolutionary pattern in deep-sea giants: energy efficiency matters more than speed in environments where food is scarce and metabolic costs are high.

Source

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

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