Back to Research Organisms Hummingbird Bobtail Squid Home Groundbreaking Research at the MBL Research Organisms Hummingbird Bobtail Squid Hummingbird bobtail squid (Euprymna berryi). Credit: Tim Briggs The hummingbird bobtail squid (Euprymna berryi) is a small species of squid found in Indo-Pacific waters from Indonesia to Japan and China. Bobtail squid bury themselves under the sand during the day and emerge at night to feed and mate. To avoid being eaten, this species has developed a symbiotic relationship with Vibrio fischeri, a species of bioluminescent (glowing) bacteria. This bioluminescence provides camouflage so Euprymna are not silhouetted by the moon at night when the animals are most active. Colonization of V. fischeri in the light organ occurs one hour after hatching and drives the development of the light organ tissue. Scientific Name: Euprymna berryi Type: CephalopodHabitat: Sandy seagrassRange: Indo-Pacific regionLife Span in the Wild: 6 monthsSize: Mantle length up to 2 inchesWeight: 15 – 18 gramsDiet: Small benthic crustaceansStatus: Data Deficient Remote video URL Cephalopod behavior. Credit: Marine Biological Laboratory / BioQuest Studios / Nguyen Khoi Nguyen The Hummingbird Bobtail Squid and the MBL Scientists at the MBL and around the world study cephalopods to learn about everything from camouflage and limb dexterity to regeneration and neurobiology. The hummingbird bobtail squid has an interesting biology and is easy to raise in a lab environment. That, coupled with its small size, short time to maturity, and ability to produce a large number of offspring, makes it an ideal model for research. E. berryi are bred in the Marine Biological Laboratory’s Cephalopod Mariculture Facility and the species has become a successful system for studying development, neurobiology, and RNA editing. Scientists at the MBL are developing new tools in this species—including genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9. Learn more about the New Research Organisms Strategic Initiative Learn more about Cephalopods at the MBL Cephalopod News How Are Complex Brains Built? Cephalopods Could Shed Light On Core Principles July 29, 2024 What Can Cephalopods Teach Us About Adapting to Climate Change? July 8, 2024 An Ark-Full of Scientific Wonders in a Lab Inspired by Woods Hole March 15, 2024 MBL Research Year in Review December 29, 2023