- Joined
- Sep 10, 2007
- Messages
- 18
This morning we dissected a Humboldt Squid that has been frozen since it was taken in Monterey Bay a few months ago. It was a spectacular beast, as they all are. But this one had some structures inside its stomach that have me stumped. The image here is the best we could muster with an iphone.
Each strand is the same length, about 5cm. The end of each is rounded and the thickest part. Near the middle of each strand is one spiral coil. Closer to the base the strand becomes more narrow until it tangles with the others. The strands are together where the image appears whitest but they do not seem attached to each other. Individual strands are easy to disentangle. Each strand is crystal clear and is firmer than mesoglea: they a have the spring of heavy monofilament line.
Very little else was inside the stomach other than some likely small squid eye lenses.
We are guessing this is part of some worm mouth parts? Our chem teacher guessed pogonphorans? I am at a loss.
any ideas?
Greg McBride Aptos High School
I have attached the image
Each strand is the same length, about 5cm. The end of each is rounded and the thickest part. Near the middle of each strand is one spiral coil. Closer to the base the strand becomes more narrow until it tangles with the others. The strands are together where the image appears whitest but they do not seem attached to each other. Individual strands are easy to disentangle. Each strand is crystal clear and is firmer than mesoglea: they a have the spring of heavy monofilament line.
Very little else was inside the stomach other than some likely small squid eye lenses.
We are guessing this is part of some worm mouth parts? Our chem teacher guessed pogonphorans? I am at a loss.
any ideas?
Greg McBride Aptos High School
I have attached the image