Thread by @Drew_Lab

Next up: 5th seeded Vampire Squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) vs. the 4th seeded Black Dragonfish (Idiacanthus atlanticus) #2021MMM

The Vampire Squid avoided the grasping vine like arms of the Basket Star while the Black Dragonfish consumed the nugatory nautical navigator the Blue Glaucus #2021MMM

Since both of these creatures inhabit the deep cold places of the earth's oceans home habitat may not be a huge factor. Vampire squids are found from 600-900m down while Dragonfish are found deeper up to 2000m down. #2021MMM

These depths are in the aphotic zones, depths of the oceans where less than 1% of avialable light penetrates hence our soundtrack: Toots and Maytal's In The Dark #2021MMM

In the dark, there ain't no light. In the dark, (Lord) you cheat and lie. In the dark, you can run away, In the dark you can consume your prey #2021MMM

Tonight's battle starts with the black dragonfish wandering in the cold depths, the small nudibranch it consumed last week has become nothing but a pleasant memory and hunger stirs within #2021MMM

At the same time the vampire squid is navigating these depths, and while it has large eyes to be able to capture every spare photon, it also uses its tentacles as a tactile organ to find prey #2021MMM

Hoving and Robison (2012, bit.ly/394MvcM) found that Vampire Squid ate detrital matter of various sizes, from small particles to larger marine aggregates, including the remains of gelatinous zooplankton, crustacean remains, diatoms & faecal pellets. #2021MMM

The Black Dragonfish, however, does not fancy faecal pellets. No, it craves flesh, living flesh #2021MMM

A waft of scent, a turn of current, and slight vibration within the dark and the Dragonfish is alerted to the presence of a visitor, and in the deep every visitor can become prey #2021MMM

Firing up its photophores the Black Dragonfish bathes the Vampire Squid in near infra-red light (bit.ly/396XIcL). While we don't know the visual acuity of Vampire Squids, many of the dragonfish's prey can't see that light as it is rare at these depths #2021MM

This "sniper scope" means that many of the Dragonfish's prey don't even know they are being observed, they are blind to the lurking doom #2021MMM

The Vampire Squid is floating horizontally and its tentacles brush something and all of a sudden two things happen in very rapid succession. First the Dragonfish strikes and second the Vampire Squid flips out #2021MMM

Literally. One of the defensive techniques that the Vampire Squid has is to turn inside out, exposing a velvety black inner mantle lined with sharp cirri, and adopting the "pineapple position" (Photo by David Shale on tolweb.org/Vampyroteuthis…) #2021MMM

Now that the Squid has adopted the form of "spiky pineapple" it's far too large for the Black Dragonfish to eat, right? #2021MMM

Black Dragonfish says "hold my rum". This is where biomechanics comes into play (oh hai @mwestneat) See the Dragonfish, like most of the members of its family has an extra notch in its neck #2021MMM

In most vertebrates the spine leaves the skull and goes into the 1st vertebrae, however in the fish family Stomiidae there's a bit of free floating spinal column which allows the members to crank back their head and open their mouths #2021MMM

In fact, Schnell and Johnson (2017 bit.ly/3lFvH14) found that they could open their jaws up to 120 degrees. Because when you don't know when your next meal may arrive, no meal is too big to give a try #2021MMM

So snapping back its head the Dragonfish launches at the Vampire Squid/Pineapple from Hell #2021MMM

However, the Squid has one last trick up its sleeve (that is, if it wore sleeves). See, it fires a series of photophores on the tips of its arms. COELENTERAZINE AND LUCIFERASE ON (Johnny storm gif) #2021MMM

This sudden flaring of light distracts the Black Dragonfish. The Dragonfish instinctively strikes out, snapping off a mouthful of tentacles. The bite, however, leaves the Vampire Squid's vital meat untouched #2021MMM

With a biteful of calamari, the Black Dragonfish flees the bioluminescent flare into the dark depths below. The Vampire Squid is damaged, but victorious #2021MMM

VAMPIRE SQUID DEFEATS BLACK DRAGONFISH #2021MMM