Head to head
Piglet Squid vs Cockeyed Squid
Piglet Squid
VS Cockeyed Squid
Both squids have earned attention for their unusual appearance, but each stands out for a completely different visual quirk.
| Piglet Squid | Cockeyed Squid | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Helicocranchia pfefferi | Histioteuthis heteropsis |
| Distinguishing feature | A small, round, balloon-like body | One eye far larger than the other |
| Buoyancy | Uses an ammonium-filled internal chamber to hover | Not documented as using a comparable buoyancy chamber |
| Eye structure | Two matched eyes with small nearby light organs | Two differently sized, differently specialised eyes |
| Family | Not part of the jewel squid family | A member of the jewel squid family |
| Resting posture | Hovers nearly motionless | Hangs at a tilted angle |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Piglet Squid vs Cockeyed Squid: common questions
Which squid has two very different-sized eyes?
The cockeyed squid is the one with this feature, having one noticeably larger, bulging eye and one smaller eye, each specialised for a different visual task, unlike the piglet squid's matched pair of eyes.
Which squid uses an internal chamber to hover in place?
The piglet squid uses this strategy, adjusting its buoyancy with an internal chamber of ammonium-rich fluid to hover nearly motionless in open water with very little swimming effort.
Which squid belongs to the jewel squid family?
The cockeyed squid belongs to the jewel squid family, named for the sparkling appearance of its many light-producing photophores, a family the piglet squid does not belong to.