Heteroteuthis dispar, also known as the odd bobtail, is a small deep water squid found in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

[5] The funnel is found under the head and the locking apparatus has a deep, curved groove and an angled posterior pit.

[5] The male Heteroteuthis dispar produces a spermatophore or sperm package which is transferred to the female before she is sexually mature.

This reproductive practice may be due to the fact that finding a mate deep in the ocean at the appropriate time is difficult.

Predators that feed on this squid include dolphins (Grampus griseus), the velvet belly lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax), the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus), the small-spotted catshark, (Scyliorhinus canicula), the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and tuna (Thunnus alalunga).

This can be released into the water through the funnel and the glowing cloud is believed to blind or confuse predators for long enough for the squid to make its escape.