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Two unexampled species of pygmy calamari have been found in the subtropical waters of a Nipponese island . These cephalopod , which are smaller than newspaper clip , find refuge in the coral layer and seagrass fields of Okinawa and take their names from- fairies in Nipponese folklore and warriorlike arts .
The two newly key tool were described in a study published last month in the journalMarine Biology .
The Ryukyuan pygmy squid is named after the Kijimuna that are red-haired, childlike creatures who live in banyan trees.
Related : Watch a see - through calamary with demon - corresponding eyes swim in Alaska ’s rich waters
The Ryukyuan pygmy squid ( Idiosepius kijimuna ) derives its species name , " kijimuna , " from a mythologic creature in Okinawan folklore . Kijimuna are aver to be flushed - haired , childlike animate being who subsist in banyan trees . alike to kijimuna , I. kijimunais slightly red and lives in the seagrass woodland airless to shoring , up to6.6 metrical foot ( 2 meters)below the aerofoil . Although the species was obtain back in2018 , researchers had too few specimens to indite a schematic verbal description at that time , the team write in the subject field .
The 2nd metal money , the Hannan ’s pigmy squid ( Kodama jujutsu ) , learn its name from underwater photographerBrandon Ryan Hannan , who originally found the creature cling to the underside of a coral Rand . This species present a whole new genus , Kodama , also make after a mythologic being . fit in to the newstudy , Kodama are ghostly , rounded tree heart believed to lie in in ancient forests . Their mien is consider to be a augury of a healthy forest .
Hannan’s pygmy squid (Kodama jujutsu), takes its name from underwater photographer Brandon Ryan Hannan.
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I. kijimunaswims swimmingly , whileK. jujutsubobs along with its arms splayed outward , in ordering to get piteous shrimp . These predatory piddle stunt flying led to the coinage name " jujutsu " ( also spelled " jujitsu " or " jiujitsu " ) , a martial art .
" Jiu - jitsu revolves around deal and using your opponent ’s specialty , and theKodama jujutsupreys on shrimp orotund than itself by grappling with its small arms , " conscientious objector - authorJeffrey Jolly , of the Marine Climate Change Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University , aver in astatement .
Collecting these tiny creatures was dodgy ; both species have a maximum length of about half an in ( 1.2 cm ) .
" There are so many other thing to take care at , that finding a minuscule squid the size of a pinkie fingernail is not easy , " Jolly say . Not only are both teensy squid nocturnal , but consort to the study , the Ryukyuansquid appear only in the winter . Their whereabouts during the summer months is a enigma .
Though these sea - dwelling creatures were see of late , land use threatens their habitats .
