What have you got to smile about? Meet the amazing piglet squid who always looks happy



He could almost be a new Mr Men character with his rotund shape, cute curls and shy smile.

But this is really a piglet squid caught in a rare image on camera.

His tentacles made what looks like a mop of curly hair over his large eyes while his skin patterns created a grin.



Grinning: The piglet squid, about the size of an orange, gets its name from its tuft of tentacles and rotund shape

The small squid, which is the size of a large orange, is normally found more than 320ft (100m) below the ocean surface, meaning little is known of its behaviour.

Measuring just 4in in length the species has unusual pigmentation and acquired its name from its tuft of arms and tentacles, and rotund shape.



Because of its deep water habit, little is known of the behaviour of the squid, although not surprisingly, judging by its body shape, it is known to be a sluggish swimmer.

Properly called Helicocranchia pfefferi, the animals are also noted for the light producing organs known as photophores located beneath each of their large eyes.