# Glass Squid (*Egea inermis*)

The Glass Squid is a fascinating creature that lives in the deep, dark ocean. Its transparent body helps it hide from predators, and it can glow to communicate with other squids.

- **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Deep Sea

![Glass Squid](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424663/objects/6122.jpg)

## Appearance

The Glass Squid has a mostly transparent, gelatinous body, appearing almost invisible in its deep-sea home. It possesses large, often tubular eyes and distinctive light organs on its eyeballs, unique among squids.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Mollusca
- **Class:** Cephalopoda
- **Order:** Oegopsida
- **Family:** Cranchiidae
- **Genus:** Egea

## Interesting facts

- Many glass squid species swim with their arms and tentacles held together, pointing upwards!
- Many glass squids use a special ammonium chloride solution to help them float effortlessly!
- Some glass squid species can inflate their bodies, making themselves appear much bigger!
- Their liver and digestive gland are easily seen right through their transparent bodies!

## Special abilities

- **Floating Power:** Glass Squid can float effortlessly because of a special chamber filled with an ammonia solution, making them buoyant.
- **Escape Cloud:** Glass Squid can release a cloud of bioluminescent fluid to startle and confuse attackers, allowing for a quick escape.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 10-20
- **Weight:** 0.1-0.5
- **Maximum Depth:** 200-2000

## Diet & Feeding

This deep-sea hunter eats small fish and crustaceans, using its transparency to ambush unsuspecting prey.

- **Primary Foods:** lanternfish, small crustaceans, copepods, shrimp
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Sperm Whale](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sperm-whale) (*Physeter macrocephalus*) — A primary predator of deep-sea squid.
- **Eaten by:** [Greenland Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greenland-shark) (*Somniosus microcephalus*) — Deep-sea sharks prey on various cephalopods.
- **Hunts:** [Lanternfish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lanternfish) (*Myctophum punctatum*) — Eats small, abundant deep-sea fish.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Deep Sea](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deep-sea): Deep sea habitats are characterized by extreme pressure, darkness, and cold temperatures, supporting unique life forms below the sunlit zone.
- [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
- [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting.

## Collections

- [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Glass Squids live in the ocean and are not dangerous to humans. They are delicate creatures, so we should observe them from a distance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Glass Squid?

Look for fins, arms, tentacles, shells and body symmetry. Underwater light shifts colors, so structure and markings usually matter more than shade. Sea Creature Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Glass Squid?

10-20

### How much does Glass Squid weigh?

0.1-0.5

### What does Glass Squid eat?

This deep-sea hunter eats small fish and crustaceans, using its transparency to ambush unsuspecting prey.

### Where is Glass Squid usually found?

Deep Sea

### How does Glass Squid hunt?

Ambush

### How deep can Glass Squid go?

200-2000

## More Invertebrate

- [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral)
- [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*)
- [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*)
- [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*)

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Source: [Glass Squid: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glass-squid)