Shoebill Squid

Despite a shared avian/cephalopod hybrid anatomy, the Ambalaenisepia's resembleance to [link] is purely cosmetic. Unlike its "aesthetic cousin" the Pelicanautilus, the Shoebill Squid's fore-aft axis of orientation is completely reversed from the terrestrial cephalopodian norm, with the cartilagenous front-opening avian bill taking the place of the invertebrate mantle. The cluster of tentacles is thus situated at the posterior, while the aft-pointing muscular siphon forcefully expels water to the rear to propel the animal forward. Note that the plasticity of the creature's invertebrate soft tissues allow it to twist its posterior section towards the viewer while its "bill" remains in profile, producing a startling illusion of disjunction in perspective. Given its unique morphological configuration and iconic jaw shape, the Shoebill Squid is perhaps more deserving than any terrestrial cephalopod of the literal title "head/foot."

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It's not really a Shoebill Squid--it's a SHOEBILL CUTTLEFISH!!
[link]
Thanks to for permission to use this awesome photo for reference!
I flashed on a shoebill stork as soon as I saw it.

Additional photo reference, at the stork end of the spectrum:
[link]

I'm sure that Meg Lyman's awesome cephalavian chimerae were also an influence percolating somewhere in the mix:
[link]