Vampire Squid unique among their Class in the way they reproduce

Researchers have found new facts about the sexual life of cephalopods, which include squid and octopuses. While studying vampire squid, researchers came to know about some squid species that breed at the almost end of their life cycles. They put in all their energy into the creation of eggs that are released shortly before the species dies.

However, such is not the case with vampire squid that is found in oxygen-depleted environments, 600 to 900 meters below the sea surface. They enjoy their sexual life with their partners throughout their lives.

Henk-Jan Hoving of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel in Germany, said, “Their slow mode of life seems insufficient to support one big reproductive event, unlike other coleoid cephalopods”.

Possibly owing to this reason, the vampire squid comes back to a gonadal resting phase after spawning. It is considered that they start collecting energy for a new reproductive cycle. For the study, the researchers assessed the corpses of 43 female vampire squid.

The researchers came to know that some of them had eggs ready to be delivered, but there were some that had spawned many times earlier. To cite an example, one female had spawning 38 times. Not only this, it had eggs in reserve for at least 60 more spawning episodes.

It can be said that vampire squid are quite unique among cephalopods. They feed on nutrients and food scraps and its eight legs are joined by skin membranes. In very deep seas, there are low levels of food and oxygen and these factors might have forced vampire squid to adopt a more slow and sustainable lifestyle that reflects in its sex life.

Hoving was of the view that more research is needed to increase the knowledge base of deep-sea pelagic organisms.