description Spirula spirula Overview
Spirula spirula is a deep-water squid possessing a unique, internally coiled shell resembling a ram's horn, first classified by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 Systema Naturae.
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Spirula spirula ranks #6 of 139 in the Squid ranking, behind Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, ahead of Taningia danae.
help Spirula spirula FAQ
Why does Spirula spirula have a coiled shell inside its body?
Its lightweight chambered shell functions as a buoyancy system, somewhat like the shell of a nautilus but enclosed inside the mantle. The tight coil gives the animal its common name, the ram's horn squid.
Why are Spirula shells common on beaches when living animals are rarely seen?
The durable internal shells float after the squid dies and can travel long distances before washing ashore. Living Spirula spirula normally occupies deep open water, commonly around 500 to 1,000 meters down during daylight.
Does Spirula spirula produce light?
Yes. It has a photophore between the small fins at the rear of its mantle that can emit a pale greenish light, which is why it is also called the tail-light squid.
Did Carl Linnaeus originally give Spirula spirula its current name?
Linnaeus described it as Nautilus spirula in the 1758 edition of Systema Naturae. Lamarck established the genus Spirula later, and the species is now written Spirula spirula.
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