Never-before-seen vampire squid species discovered in twilight zone of South China Sea

Scientists discover what appears to be the second known living species of vampire squid swimming in deep water off Hainan island, China.

Scientists in China may have identified a newfound species of vampire squid — only the second known species in the world. 

Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) reach lengths of about 1 foot (0.3 meters). Despite their menacing appearance and name, they are deep-sea scavengers and are unlikely to harm anything aside from small invertebrates and in fact usually gravitate toward feces and dead animals.

The only officially recognized species was described in 1903 following a deep-sea expedition led by German marine biologist Carl Chun. A number of additional species were later described but eventually turned out to be members of the same species. 

These supposed newfound species were juvenile forms of V. infernalis, which had very different physical characteristics — the squid grows a second set of fins closer to its head as it matures and its original fins disappear.

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