Phylum Mollusca Class Cephalopoda Does the Giant Squid get giant headaches?

Cephalopod Characteristics  All mollusks have a muscular foot- cephalopods have adapted their foot to form flexible tentacles with suckers  Largest eyes and most complex nervous system (brain) of any invertebrate  Swim using jet propulsion-organ called a siphon used to squeeze water out

Cephalopod Defense Strategies  Can sense colors around them and change to blend in  Can produce black inky substance that helps them escape predators

Cephalopod Body Systems  Have sensitive eyes-they can see brightness, size and shapes! They have about the same eyesight as sharks.  Use their tentacles to detect smells and chemicals  Closed circulatory system (like ours- network of blood vessels carries blood)  Gills to take in oxygen from water  Beak to “chew” food into smaller pieces

Giant Squid  Maximum size-Females-13 meters (43 feet) long, Males-10 meters (33 feet) long!  Live at depths of meters!  Feed on deep sea fish and other squids  Found in all oceans  Largest eyes in the world- over 30 cm (1 foot)!!

Cephalopod Video  Click here for a video clip of Jet Propulsion Click here for a video clip of Jet Propulsion Click here for a video clip of Jet Propulsion  A cuttlefish changing color A cuttlefish changing color A cuttlefish changing color

Cool Cephalopods