Caribbean reef squid

Caribbean reef squid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Teuthida
Family: Loliginidae
Genus: Sepioteuthis
Species: S. sepioidea
Binomial name
Sepioteuthis sepioidea
(Blainville, 1823)
Synonyms
  • Loligo sepiodea
    Blainville, 1823
  • Sepioteuthis biangutata
    Rang, 1837
  • Sepioteuthis sepiodea
    Orbigny, 1839
  • Sepioteuthis sloani
    Leach, 1849
  • Sepioteuthis ovata
    Gabb, 1868
  • Sepioteuthis ehrhardti
    Pfeffer, 1884
  • Sepioteuthis accidentalis
    Robson, 1926
  • Sepia officinalis jurujubai
    Oliveira, 1940

Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea), commonly called reef squid, are small 20 cm (7.9 in) torpedo-shaped squid with undulating fins that extend nearly the entire length of the body. In 2001, marine biologist Silvia Maciá discovered that squid were able to propel themselves up out of the water about 2 m (6.6 ft) and fly approximately 10 m (33 ft) before re-entry; a discovery which led to the identification of six species of flying squid.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Reef Squid, Bonaire
A school of Reef Squid, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Caribbean reef squid hovering just above seafloor
Close-up of a Caribbean reef squid

The Caribbean reef squid is found throughout the Caribbean Sea as well as off the coast of Florida, commonly in small schools of 4-30 in the shallows associated with reefs. The habitat of the Reef Squid changes according to the squid's stage of life and size. New hatchlings tend to reside close to the shore in areas from 0.2–1 meters below the surface on or under vegetation. Young small squid typically congregate in shallow turtle grass near islands and remain several centimeters to two meters from the surface to avoid bird predators. Adults venture out into open water and can be found in depths up to 100 m. When mating, adults are found near coral reefs in depths of 1.5–8 m. The Caribbean reef squid is the only squid species commonly sighted by divers over inshore reefs in the Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean region.

Feeding behavior

This species, like most squid, is a voracious eater and typically consumes 30-60% of its body weight daily. Prey is caught using the club-like end of the long tentacles which are then pulled towards the mouth supported by the shorter arms. Like other cephalopods, it has a strong beak which it uses to cut the prey into parts so that the raspy tongue, or radula, can be used to further process the food. It consumes small fish, other molluscs, and crustaceans.

Communication

Caribbean reef squid have been shown to communicate using a variety of color, shape, and texture changes. Squid are capable of rapid changes in skin color and pattern through nervous control of chromatophores.[2] In addition to camouflage and appearing larger in the face of a threat, squids use color, patterns, and flashing to communicate with one another in various courtship rituals. Caribbean reef squid can send one message via color patterns to a squid on their right, while they send another message to a squid on their left.[3][4]

Reproduction

Like other cephalopods, the Caribbean reef squid, is semelparous, dying after reproducing. Females lay their eggs then die immediately after. The males, however, can fertilize many females in a short period of time before they die. Females lay the eggs in well-protected areas scattered around the reefs. After competing with 2-5 other males, the largest male approaches the female and gently strokes her with his tentacles. At first she may indicate her alarm by flashing a distinct pattern, but the male soon calms her by blowing water at her and jetting gently away. He returns repeatedly until the female accepts him, however the pair may continue this dance or courting for up to an hour. The male then attaches a sticky packet of sperm to the female's body. As he reaches out with the sperm packet, he displays a pulsating pattern. The female places the packet in her seminal receptacle, finds appropriate places to lay her eggs in small clusters, and then dies.

References

  1. ↑ Jahr, F. 2010. Fact or fiction: Can a squid fly out of the water?. Scientific American, August 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ Cloney RA. & Florey E. Ultrastructure of cephalopod chromatophore organs. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1968; 89:250-280. PMID 5700268
  3. ↑ The Cephalopod Page: Sepioteuthis sepioidea, Caribbean Reef squid
  4. ↑ Byrne, R.A., U. Griebel, J.B. Wood & J.A. Mather 2003. "Squids say it with skin: a graphic model for skin displays in Caribbean Reef Squid." (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-04. (3.86 MiB) Berliner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen 3: 29-35.
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