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(D'Orbigny, 1835)
The Humboldt squid is the third largest living squid after the giant squid Architeuthis dux and the gelatinous squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. It is one of the top predators in the world's oceans, where the squid can be found at depths of up to 1000 meters.
With the onset of dusk, the voracious squid rise to a depth of about 40 meters to hunt for prey, but they themselves must watch out for predators such as whales.
With over 1000 suction cups, once the squid has grabbed its prey, escape is impossible.
Fishermen in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico call the Humboldt squid the “red devil” because of its ability to change color from white to red at lightning speed and because its powerful beak can inflict deep, heavily bleeding wounds that can even bite through chain mail.
Every year, fishermen fall victim to the giant squid. It is suspected that the squid suffocate the fishermen first and then eat them.
Humboldt squids communicate by changing their skin color very quickly. These alternating light spots are also called the stroboscopic effect. Scientists suspect that this play of light is used to call fellow species to the hunt.
Synonym:
Ommastrephes gigas d’Orbigny, 1835
The Humboldt squid is the third largest living squid after the giant squid Architeuthis dux and the gelatinous squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. It is one of the top predators in the world's oceans, where the squid can be found at depths of up to 1000 meters.
With the onset of dusk, the voracious squid rise to a depth of about 40 meters to hunt for prey, but they themselves must watch out for predators such as whales.
With over 1000 suction cups, once the squid has grabbed its prey, escape is impossible.
Fishermen in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico call the Humboldt squid the “red devil” because of its ability to change color from white to red at lightning speed and because its powerful beak can inflict deep, heavily bleeding wounds that can even bite through chain mail.
Every year, fishermen fall victim to the giant squid. It is suspected that the squid suffocate the fishermen first and then eat them.
Humboldt squids communicate by changing their skin color very quickly. These alternating light spots are also called the stroboscopic effect. Scientists suspect that this play of light is used to call fellow species to the hunt.
Synonym:
Ommastrephes gigas d’Orbigny, 1835
