The Squid Without a Shadow - Creation Moments

Psalm 18:28
“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.”

Many marine creatures reflect surrounding light. They can do so because of tiny light-reflecting platelets. Typically, these crystalline platelets are made of purine, one of the building blocks of DNA, but these particular crystals cannot change how much light they reflect.

The Hawaiian bobtail squid, however, needs to be able to reflect different levels of light because of its unique lifestyle. This squid glides through moonlit waters but without its special reflective tissue its shadow would be seen as it passes over the bottom. The bobtail squid has light generating tissue on its underside facing the bottom and this produces just sufficient light to make its shadow disappear. In other words, it can generate variable levels of light. What’s more, the squid can move its light-generating platelets around so that they might be scattered among its cells or concentrated where needed. Rather than being composed of just one amino acid, this squid’s platelets are made up of six amino acids.

God is the source of all light, including spiritual light. According to evolution, the squid is closely related to some of the first animals that evolved in the sea. Yet, its technically sophisticated camouflage, which perfectly fits its environment and life-style is a testimony to God’s wise design, not the early stages of mindless evolution. The spiritual light of God’s truth makes that clear.

Prayer: Father, we are surrounded by the darkness of the world. Let the light of Your truth shine in our hearts and minds. Amen.

Author: Paul A. Bartz

Ref: Science News, 1/10: 2004, p. 20, A. Goho, “Moonlighting.” Photo: Adult Hawaiian bobtail squid. Margaret McFall-Ngai. (CC BY 4.0)