Species of cephalopod also known as the sparkling enope squid
Firefly squid
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Cephalopoda
Order:
Oegopsida
Family:
Enoploteuthidae
Genus:
Watasenia Ishikawa, 1914
Species:
W. scintillans
Binomial name
Watasenia scintillans
(Berry, 1911)[2]
Synonyms
Abralia (Compsoteuthis) nishikawae Pfeffer, 1912
Abralia japonica Ishikawa, 1929
Abraliopsis scintillans Berry, 1911
The firefly squid (Watasenia scintillans), also commonly known as the sparkling enope squid or hotaru-ika in Japan,[3] is a species of squid in the family Enoploteuthidae.[4]W. scintillans is the sole species in the monotypic genus Watasenia.[4]
These tiny squid are found on the shores of Japan in springtime during spawning season, but spend most of their lives in deeper waters between 200 and 400 metres (700 and 1,300 feet; 100 and 200 fathoms).[5] They are bioluminescent organisms and emit blue light from photophores, which some scientists have hypothesized could be used for communication, camouflage, or attracting food, but it is still unclear in the scientific community exactly how this species uses their bioluminescence.[3]
The firefly squid is a predator and actively hunts its food, which includes copepods, small fish, and other squids.[3] The lifespan of a firefly squid is about one year. At the end of their lives, females return close to shore to release their eggs and then die shortly thereafter. This mass migration of firefly squid to the shore is a lucrative business for Japanese fishermen, and during spawning season many go out to the bays to collect the dying squid. Many more also visit Japan during spawning season to see the bright blue light created from the firefly squid's bioluminescence light up the bay, making their spawning season not only a fishing opportunity but also a tourist attraction.[5]
^Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Watasenia scintillans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163146A977074. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T163146A977074.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Julian Finn (2016). "Watasenia scintillans (Berry, 1911)". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
^ abcPreston, Elizabeth (2018-07-03). "Flashes of Brilliance". bioGraphic. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
^ abTsuchiya, Kotaro (October 2015). "Watasenia scintillans". The Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
^ abMichinomae, Ishikawa; Kabutoyama, Kito; Masanao, Masaki; Nishinomiya, Yuji (2009). "Photic environment and bioluminescent cephalopod (Watasenia scintillans) -Firefly squid's MINAGE-". Aquabiology/Kaiyo to Seibutsu. 31: 280–286 – via ProQuest.
The fireflysquid (Watasenia scintillans), also commonly known as the sparkling enope squid or hotaru-ika in Japan, is a species of squid in the family...
reflectin proteins. Some mesopelagic squid such as the fireflysquid (Watasenia scintillans) and the midwater squid (Abralia veranyi) use counter-illumination...
Life - Fact files: Fireflysquid". Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Animal Fact Files - Fireflysquid Patowary, Kaushik...
called ika-no-shiokara. The heavily salted squid (usually sparkling enope (firefly) squid or spear squid), sometimes with innards, ferments for as long...
background. Some species of cephalopod, such as the eye-flash squid and the fireflysquid, produce light in photophores on their undersides to match the...
counter-illumination. Photophores are found on some cephalopods including the fireflysquid, which can create impressive light displays, as well as numerous other...
"Structural basis for wavelength discrimination in the banked retina of the fireflysquid Watasenia scintillans". Journal of Experimental Biology. 193 (1): 1–12...
squid abilities including extending her tentacles, regenerating severed ones, spewing squid ink from her mouth, glowing in the dark like the firefly squid...
including some bioluminescent bacteria, and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria...
barreleye fish and the cock-eyed squid. Lastly, the programme features the mass spawning event of the fireflysquid in Japan. Life That Glows at BBC Online...
shiokara. Ika no shiokara—from cuttlefish "squid", the most common variety Hotaruika no shiokara—from fireflysquid Katsuo no shiokara—from skipjack tuna Kaki...
camouflage. It is notably used by some species of squid, such as the fireflysquid and the midwater squid. The latter has light-producing organs (photophores)...
colorful squid, the only species in the only genus in the monotypic family Lampadioteuthidae. It is sometimes known as the wonderful fireflysquid. It was...
Sarah Oh) is one of Lu's friends, a spookfish who has big eyes. The fireflysquid are one of Lu's friends. Pearline is a clam with a pearl inside. She...
carotenoids. Cyclorrhaphans, including Drosophila, use (3S)-3-hydroxyretinal. Fireflysquid have been found to use (4R)-4-hydroxyretinal. The visual cycle is a...
semilineata Genus Watasenia Watasenia scintillans, sparkling enope squid or fireflysquid The species listed above with an asterisk (*) is questionable and...
counter-illumination camouflage, more like that of marine animals such as the fireflysquid than the Canadian diffused lighting approach. The system never entered...
Nematolampas regalis, the regal fireflysquid is a small, little-known species of squid from the family Lycoteuthidae which is found in the subtropical...
Daggertooths are occasionally found dead in bottom trawls used for fireflysquid or shrimp. They are similar to needlefish or gars. However, they are...
including the midwater squid, Abralia veranyi. The underside is covered with small photophores, organs that produce light. The squid varies the intensity...
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