Humboldt Squid

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iHumboldt Squid

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Teuthida
Family:	Ommastrephidae
Subfamily:	Ommastrephinae
Genus:	Dosidicus Steenstrup, 1857
Species:	D. gigas

Binomial name

Dosidicus gigas
(Orbigny, 1835)

Synonyms

Ommastrephes gigas
Orbigny, 1835
Ommastrephes giganteus
Gray, 1849
Dosidicus eschrichti
Steenstrup, 1857
Dosidicus steenstrupi
Pfeffer, 1884

The Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas), also known as Jumbo Squid, Jumbo Flying Squid, Giant Squid, Diablo Rojo, Pota or Calamari, is a large, aggressive predatory squid found in the waters of the Humboldt Current in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They are most commonly found at depths of 200-700 metres (600 to 2300 feet), from Tierra del Fuego to California. There is some evidence that they are spreading north into the waters of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.

1 Behaviour and general characteristics
2 Organoleptic characteristics
3 Fishing
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Behaviour and general characteristics

Humboldt Squid are social animals, hunting in schools of up to 1200 individuals. They swim at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h, 13 knots) propelled by water ejected through a hyponome (siphon) and by two diamond shaped fins. Their tentacles bear barbed suckers with which they grasp prey and drag it towards a mouth containing a large, sharp beak.

Humboldt Squid are thought to have a lifespan of only about one year (however some researchers believe they may survive up to four years). They may grow to 2 m (6 ft) and weigh 45 kg (100 pounds), growing at an astounding rate. They can rapidly change their skin colour from deep purplish red to white using chromatophores (specialized skin cells) in what appears to be a complex communication system. It appears they hunt for prey, small fish and krill, in a cooperative fashion, which would be the first observation of such behaviour in invertebrates.

[edit] Organoleptic characteristics

The general body proportions are the tube (or body) is about 40%, the fin (or wing) is about 12%, the tentacles are about 14%, the outer skin is about 3%, the head (including eyes and beak) are about 5%, and the balance are the inner organs. Their flesh has an ammonia odor and an acid flavor, which makes it very unpleasant to eat, for humans or other predators or themselves since the species has a cannibalistic behaviour. This is believed to be a defense mechanism since most ocean species that present this characteristics would mean that a decomposition process has started. The off odor and flavor can be eliminated during commercial processing using a variety of methods.

It should be noted that in circumstances where these animals are not being grossly overfished, they exhibit very curious and intelligent behavior.

Recent footage of pods of these animals demonstrate a tendency to meet unfamiliar objects aggressively. Having risen to depths of 400-600 feet below the surface to feed (up from their typical 2,000 foot diving depth, beyond the range of human diving), deep-sea cameras have been attacked and rendered inoperable. One particular diver who has spent much of his career video-taping this species developed body armor to protect against attacks. Each of their suckers are ringed with sharp teeth, and the beak itself can tear a six-inch gash through ribs.

[edit] Fishing

Commercially, this species has been caught to serve the European community (mainly Spain), Russian, Chinese, Japanese, South East Asian and increasingly North American markets. The squid are fished at night, when they rise to the surface to feed. Hand-lines with luminous jigs are used to attract and catch the squid.

There are numerous accounts of the squid attacking fishermen and divers in the area and attacks on humans are regularly seen, but only when they are being fished. Their colouring and aggressive reputation has earned them the nickname diablos rojos (red devils) from fishermen off the coast of Mexico as they flash red and white when struggling with the fishermen. There is growing evidence that such aggressive behavior is anomalous and possibly even a result of the intense stress of being fished and killed in large numbers. When observed away from the squid-fishing boats, they appear gentle and curious.