Distribution:

Vampire Squid are distributed across temperate and tropical regions of oceans all around the world. Their vertical distribution in the water column is of more significance than their global distribution. They are found at depths between 600m and 1200m. This range in depth often represents masses of water with extremely low, but very stable, oxygen concentrations(~0.2ml O2/L water) – these are known as Oxygen Minimal Zones. Vampire Squid are some of the few species of marine invertebrates which can live in the zones continuously, and are the only cephalopods to do so. They are able to survive in these zones due to behavioural and physiological adaptations which maximum the efficiency of oxygen uptake and use:
- efficient fin-based swimming
- large gill surface area
- a hemocyanin which very efficiently binds oxygen in the blood
- a low metabolic rate
- prey capture by stationary display and detection (see Behaviours section)
- predator evasion by stationary display (see Behaviours section)
- gelatinous tissue filled with ammonia maintains neutral buoyancy