### Identification The **Cat-eye Squid (*Abraliopsis felis*) is a small, jewel-like cephalopod, with a mantle length rarely exceeding 50mm. Its body is torpedo-shaped, tapering to a sharp point, and possesses two delicate, heart-shaped fins. To identify this species in the hand (or under a dive light), look for its "constellation": the ventral surface is densely packed with tiny, dark photophores (light-producing organs). The definitive field mark is found on the tips of the fourth pair of arms, which bear three large, bead-like black photophores** that resemble dark pearls. Unlike its cousins in the *Abralia* genus, *A. felis* lacks hooks on its tentacular clubs, relying instead on specialized suckers.
### Habitat & Range This is a creature of the open blue, specifically the California Current system in the North Pacific. It ranges from the waters off Oregon down to Baja California. You won’t find it on a reef; it is a mesopelagic specialist, haunting the "twilight zone" at depths of 300 to 600 meters during the day to avoid visual predators.
### Behaviour The Cat-eye Squid is a master of the Diel Vertical Migration. As the sun sets, it begins a massive commute, rising hundreds of meters toward the surface to feed under the cover of darkness. In the field, an observer using a submersible or night-diving near deep drop-offs might see them hovering horizontally. They use their photophores for counter-illumination, adjusting the light they emit to perfectly match the moonlight filtering from above, effectively erasing their silhouette from predators lurking below.
### Diet A fierce raptorial hunter for its size, *A. felis* feeds primarily on euphausiids (krill), copepods, and larval fish. It uses its two long feeding tentacles to snatch prey with lightning speed, pulling the meal toward its sharp beak.
### Fascinating Fact The Cat-eye Squid possesses intrinsic "color filters" over its photophores. It doesn't just glow; it can shift the wavelength of its light to match the specific blue-green tint of the surrounding water, making its "cloaking device" nearly 100% effective against the keenest eyes in the ocean.