Red-Eyed Deepsquid

Red-eyed deepsquids are a large, recently discovered species of deepsquid native to Hothiri. These are the third largest of the deepsquids, behind wired deepsquids.

This species was first discovered after a drastic shift in water currents shot thousands of these squids up to the planet's surface, beaching them on the shores of Iroquet and a few neighbouring islands. The cause of this current shift is unknown, believed to be magical in nature.

Anatomy

Red-Eyed Deepsquid by Mochi

eeeeeeewww look at that ugly thing. Whys it looking at us like that? Is its eye okay?!

Red-eyed deepsquids are dark pink in colour, with a large red eye.

These squids have the largest body-to-arm ratio, each roughly the same length. An adult squid has a body roughly four metres long, with a radial disc measuring around eighty centimetres in diameter.

The eight arms are short and spindly, ending in a flat paddle with two flexible cartilage spines. These spines are used as a defensive mechanism, barbed for a more lethal attack.

These squids also feature two wiry tentacles ending in a pair of small pinchers. These tentacles are twice the length of the arms, but are prone to snapping off. Thankfully, they can regrow to even longer lengths in a few weeks.

Reproduction & Growth

Awww, look at all those little babies. Stick em on the barbie.

— Hungry oanie

These squids have strong parental instincts, closely nurturing their eggs. Both males and females will carry sets of eggs in a pair of their arms until they hatch, and the newborns cling onto the parent's arms.

Newborn red-eyed deepsquids are approximately three centimetres in length, the largest of any deepsquid species. They follow the parents in large clusters once they can swim at similar speeds to the parent. The parent teaches its offspring how to hunt, and by about three weeks of age, babies are ready to leave the parent.

Surprising Discovery

Thousands of these squids, never seen before, appearing on the shores of the few islands on Hothiri was a shock to those living there. They seemingly came out of nowhere, a writhing mass of purple piled on the beaches. After the initial confusion and horror passed, hundreds of people gathered to remove the squids from the shores, storing them in large freezer vats designed to store tonnes of rations in case of emergency.

Oceanographers studied this phenomenon, observing unusual shifts in water currents that couldn't be explained by their science. After several thousand giant crustaceans washed up on these shores just a year later, scientists confirmed it was the currents that brought up the prior squids.

The same scientists are continuing to study several samples of these squids, and the rest are still stored in the freezer vats as future emergency rations.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Abyssoteuthidae

Scientific Name

Abyssoteuthis rosiris

Lifespan

100 years

Average Weight

200 - 250 kg

Average Length

8 - 9 metres

Geographic Distribution

• Hothiri

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