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The Vampire Squid from Hell

Preview Despite its demonic look, the vampire squid collects and eats drifting particles called "marine snow" using two long, sticky filaments.
(© 2004 MBARI)

With a scientific name that means "the vampire squid from hell," you'd expect the vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) to be a fearsome predator terrorizing the deep. Despite its demonic look, that isn't the case; instead, the vampire squid collects and eats drifting particles called "marine snow" using two long, sticky filaments. It doesn't seem like much food to fuel a foot-long cephalopod, but it's enough for its slow lifestyle in dark, low-oxygen water with few predators.