Hotaru Ika, the Firefly
Squid
Scientific Name: Watasenia Scintillans
Other Names: Sparkling Enope Squid
Habitat: Western Pacific Ocean
Each year off the coasts of Toyama Bay, Japan, millions of
bioluminescent creatures gather to spawn. These life forms’ light
show puts all others to shame. They are the
“
hotaruika”. The name literally translates to
firefly (hotaru)
squid (ika).
This squid grows to a length of around 3 inches only. It is
equipped with photophores, special light-producing organs, all
throughout its body. Large photophores are situated around the eyes
and at the tips of its tentacles.
Theories state that the lights emitted by these squids are used to
communicate with potential mates or rivals, to disguise the squid’s
shape and confuse predators, or to attract prey by flashing their
lights on and off.
This squid family normally lives 600 to 1,200 feet underwater. Its
spawning season runs from March to May. The squids gather in the
bay to lay and fertilize their eggs, then slowly begin to die after
– completing their one-year life cycle.
Occasionally, the squids are forced up to the shore by the current
that wells up from the v-shaped canyon in Toyama Bay. Locals refer
to this phenomenon as "squids drowning themselves".
Scientists believe that this squid family has color vision due to
the squids having 3 visual pigments, instead of just one which is
what most cephalopods have. They also have a double-layered retina
in the back of their eyes. It is hypothesized that the squids
evolved and developed such features so they can distinguish between
ambient light and bioluminescence, and to help them decode light
patterns produced by other members of the species.
Firefly squids are also considered a delicacy in Japan and are
widely fished during spawning season. Lots of tourists enjoy the
view as the sea surface turns cobalt blue when fishermen haul in
their catches.
There exists a museum dedicated to firefly squids in Namerikawa in
Toyama prefecture – the only one in the world.
This article was generously written and
contributed anonymously by a close friend.
