V. richardi maintains the digestive gland in a vertical orientation as it swims. The slender shape of this opaque organ and its vertical orientation will result in the otherwise transparent octopod casting a minimal shadow. Concealment is important when the octopod is at the upper end of its habitat where the downwelling light is dim but strongly directional. An AVI format video clip of this animal showing the vertical orientation of the digestive gland is available at Cephalopods in Action.