The family Cranchiidae comprises the approximately 60 species of glass squid, also known as cockatoo squid, bathyscaphoid squid, cranch squid, or simply cranchiids. The common name "glass squid" derives from the transparent bodies of most species. Cranchiid squid occur in surface and midwater depths of open oceans around the world. Cranchiid squid spend much of their lives in partially sunlit shallow waters, where their transparency provides camouflage.