Dancing Chromatophores of the squid, Loligo pealeii

Chromatophores are muscle-controlled pigment cells in the skin of cephalopods, such as squid, octopus, and cuttlefish. These chromatophores expand and contract on command in order to help the animal blend in with its surroundings, or to communicate with other animals.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Coulter Keeler]

Do chromataphores respond to electrical stimulus? You weren't running any current through, but they fire because of some electrical signal right? The animals neurons prompt the change in configuration with electricity

[Michael Bok]

Yes, they are controlled by electrical stimulation. In fact, if you search for "chromatophores insane in the membrane", you can see a tissue prep where they hooked up the audio output from a mp3 player to some of the descending neurons that control the chromatophores:

However, in my video, the CNS of the squid has been destroyed, and all the chromatophores are firing randomly.

[19780433]

So when are you gonna make this into an invisibility cloak?

[Michael Bok]

No plans as such for me, but there is certainly defense funding being put into learning about how these animals use rapid, active camouflage.

[Frederik Steinmetz]

Very nice effect. Is that an actual sepia? if so, How did you stabilize it? Did you glue a camera to it? It looks more like a Voronoii effect.

[Michael Bok]

This is dissected skin tissue from a squid, Loligo pealei, just sitting on a light box, with a camera on a mount above it.

[Bobby Canipe]

GLORY TO THE HYPNOSQUID

[shuttervox]

It's like real-life hypnotoad... I can't look away.

[ChrisBclips]

Oh neat thanks.

[Michael Bok]

No external current, they are fresh and still burning off their own energy stores. You can notice that some of the chromatophores are out of gas and just sitting open in their relaxed configuration.

[ChrisBclips]

are the cells reacting by an external stimulant such as a mild electrical current? Or are the cells just fresh and still somewhat alive?

[Michael Bok]

I had to look up typrophobia.  Interesting phobia with some disturbing demonstrative visuals. Yikes