Close-up of the beautiful color changing mechanism of squid skin

Did you know, squid possesses a transparent body but its skin is able to flexibly change its color?

Learn about the color changing mechanism of ink

Recently, Stanford scientists have done experiments on the ability to change the skin color of the ink , to determine if their skin can feel the environment around itself, or need the intervention of the brain. the set.

The study was conducted by Hannah Rosen, research doctor at Stanford University. According to Rosen, squid is always famous in the animal world for its extremely unique camouflage ability. In a split second, they can change color from transparent (original color) to brown or black to match the surroundings.

Rosen said the ink is likely due to chromatophores - located under the skin. When the cells expand, the pigment will reveal more, and when shrinking, the colors will follow

Take a look at the two pictures below to better see this.

The discolouration process of squid skin.

These cells allow the squid to immerse itself in the surrounding environment, helping them loosen their prey, while protecting themselves from predators.

In order to learn how to change the color of the ink, Hannah Rosen experimented with wires connected from the brain to pigmented organs on one side of the squid.

When these nerves are destroyed, the organs containing pigment cells immediately relax, causing the discoloration nodes to shrink, while the side half can still change color.

However, after a few moments, the pigment organs in the paralyzed part became active again. This suggests that these organs seem to have taken signals elsewhere, instead of the brain.

According to Rosen, this study shows that squid can change color according to two mechanisms: unintentional and intentional . Often, when they sense danger, their brains instruct the skin pigmentation organs to expand, releasing pigment cells that help them change color and blend into nature.

However, the skin itself senses danger signals around them, helping them to change color unconsciously.