As juveniles, they have this a frilly fin situation that makes them look like siphonophores, which make super crappy meals. By looking like a bad meal, they avoid getting eaten! Scientists at @mbari-blog found that in addition to being shaped like a siphonophores, they can change the color of those frilly bits to look even more like the siphonophore. Those little red spots (chromatophores) are controlled by the squid!
Another fun aspect of being frilly, is it helps them stay neutrally buoyant.
By the time Chiroteuthis calyx are adults, that frilly tail goes away, and they’ve got to fend for themselves.
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