An adorable “little squid” is spotted 1,000 miles south of Hawaii by scientists on a deep-sea expedition, 4,500 feet below sea level.

An adorable “little squid” is spotted 1,000 miles south of Hawaii by scientists on a deep-sea expedition, 4,500 feet below sea level.

An adorable little squid has been spotted in its natural habitat, deep in the Pacific Ocean, by a team of researchers on an expedition.

The curious animal was photographed by the E/V Nautilus team exploring Palmyra Atoll earlier this month.

They spotted the creature at an altitude of 1,385 m and stopped to enjoy the moment with the little marine animal.

The curious little squid (photo) was filmed by the E/V Nautilus team exploring Palmyra atoll earlier this month.

The researchers spotted the creature at an altitude of 1,385 m and stopped to enjoy the moment with the little marine animal.

The Nautilus team, from the non-profit organization Ocean Exploration Trust, used an ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) to take advantage of this quick close-up.

The transparent squid (Helicocranchia sp.) owes its name to its large, snout-like siphon.

The Nautilus team, from the non-profit organization Ocean Exploration Trust, used an ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) to get a close-up of the little squid (photo).

The experts who found the squid said: “Squid, like other cephalopods, move with the help of a structure called a siphon, which pulls and pushes the surrounding water like a jet pump”.

The chance encounter took place on the remote Palmyra Atoll, 1,000 miles south of Hawaii.

The researchers explained: “[The animals are] able to regulate their buoyancy thanks to an internal chamber filled with ammonia, this amazing squid is often observed with its tentacles deployed above its head.”

The chance encounter took place in a remote coral atoll 1,000 miles south of Hawaii.

The team elaborated: Squids, like other cephalopods, move with the aid of a structure called a siphon, which pulls and pushes the surrounding water like a jet pump.

This cephalopod, Helicocranchia pfefferi or piglet squid, owes its name to its enlarged, snout-like siphon.

Able to regulate its buoyancy thanks to an internal chamber filled with ammonia, this astonishing squid is often observed with its tentacles deployed above its head like a wild headdress or, as one team member put it, like reindeer antlers.

The researchers who spotted the squid said: “[The animals are] able to regulate their buoyancy thanks to an internal chamber filled with ammonia, this stunning squid is often observed with its tentacles deployed above its head

The team uses a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) (photo) to explore the deep waters, and stumbled across the little squid.

Photo: The research vessel E/V Nautilus. The expedition found the animal by chance using its remote-controlled ocean explorer.