Psychroteuthis glacialis

Psychroteuthis glacialis, the glacial squid, is the only known species in the monotypic genus Psychroteuthis, in the family Psychroteuthidae. While only one species has been confirmed, two undescribed species also probably exist.^{[citation needed]} The species occurs in coastal waters near Antarctica and South America. It grows to a mantle length of 44 cm (1.44 ft).^[3]

Glacial squid
Psychroteuthis glacialis paralarva (<2 cm ML) from the Ross Sea of Antarctica
Another view of the same specimen
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Oegopsida
Family:	Psychroteuthidae Thiele, 1920
Genus:	Psychroteuthis Thiele, 1920
Species:	P. glacialis
Binomial name
Psychroteuthis glacialis Thiele, 1920[2]

Ecology

P. glacialis is known to feed on many crustaceans, fish, lanternfish, Antarctic krill, and Antarctic silverfish, and has been known to practice cannibalism.^[4] Animals known to routinely feed on glacial squid include the Antarctic petrel, light-mantled albatross, Ross seal, southern elephant seal, Weddell seal, Patagonian toothfish, wandering albatross, grey-headed albatross, the Adélie penguin, and the emperor penguin.^[5]

Distribution

The squid inhabits the pelagic zone of the southern Ocean.^[3] It is found in depths of 300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft).^[6]