The Firefly Squid, whose scientific name is the Watasenia Scintillans, is three inches long on average and is considered to be a cephalopod. Its body is covered in photophores, and this is what allows it to glow a light blue and communicate with other members of its species.
Why is it called the Firefly Squid? Well, the answer lies in the fact that the photophores in these marine animals are actually very similar to those found in fireflies. The light is produced by a complicated chemical reaction, which qualifies it as bioluminescence.
The Firefly Squid can even control these lights to scare off other predators, gather more squids, or lure in prey!
The breeding season of the firefly squid runs from March to May. During this time, a massive gathering of this squid can be seen in Toyama Bay in Japan. They gather here by the millions, even billions, to lay their eggs. The adult squid begin to die once the eggs have been released into the water and fertilized.
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