Natural History Report

Euprymna scolopes

Hawaiian Bobtail Squid

Phylum:Mollusca

    Class: Cephalopoda

        Order: Sepiolida

            Family: Sepiolidae

Distribution: The Hawaiian Bobtail Squid is native to the Pacific Ocean mostly living along coastal waters off the islands of Hawaii. Due to little amount of research done on the squid they are to be believed to only live in this area.

Description: The Hawaiian Bobtail squid is a very small marine animal with a maximum mantle size of 1.5 inches (3.5 cm) They usually have 10 tentacles and are covered in a bacteria called “Vibrio fischeri.” The light bacteria and the squid have a symbiotic relationship, the squid remains a suitable place to live for the bacteria and in return the squid recieves the ability to produce light. They do this so that they can hide from predators, and without it they would be seen as a dark shadow. Because of this they are virtually invisible.

Location: They live in the shallow waters off the coast of Hawaii. They bury themselves in whatever is on the ocean floor; so things like mud, sand, and sea grass.

Feeding Habits: The Hawaiian Bobtail Squid is a secondary consumer, as it eats shrimp and crustaceans, but it is consumed by bigger marine life such as the Hawaiian Monk Seal. It only feeds at night, because it is at higher risk of being food if it were to hunt during the day.

Reproduction: Due to their short life span of only 3-10 months, Hawaiian Bobtail squids can reproduce 2 months from after they hatch. They only reproduce one time during their life. Females lay the eggs on the undersides of coral ledges. The actual mating process takes around 30-50