Come to Grips with Taningia . . .

You're looking head-on into the mouth of Taningia. See how it reacts when threatened.

Large light organs--or photophores--on the tips of two arms flash a brilliant blue-green light. What a start this must give potential predators in the deep sea.

Photo Credit: Clyde F.E. Roper/National Museum of Natural History

Ocean Planet Exhibition Floorplan

Smithsonian Natural History Web Home Page

gene carl feldman / gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov