Beneficial bacteria in Hawaiian squid attracted to fatty acids
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 - 15:50
in Biology & Nature
The small but charismatic Hawaiian bobtail squid is known for its predator-fooling light organ. To survive, the nocturnal cephalopod depends on a mutually beneficial relationship with the luminescent bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, which gives it the ability to mimic moonlight on the surface of the ocean, and deceive monk seals and other predators that would happily make a meal of the small creature.