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Humboldt Squid

The Humboldt squid is also known as the jumbo flying squid for its ability to leap completely out of the water when escaping predators! Known for their rapid color changes and large size, these squid play an important role in marine ecosystems as both predator and prey.

 

Humboldt squid can grow to be massive — weighing up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds) and growing up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) long. It has a torpedo-shaped body as well as two long tentacles lined with over 100 hooked suckers that they use to capture prey like shrimp, fish, octopuses, and other squids. Humboldt squids are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Chile to California, living at depths of up to 1,000 meters (3,281 feet). Those in deeper waters spend the day in the dark depths and migrate upward at night to the surface to follow their prey.

One of their most striking features is their ability to rapidly change color patterns using specialized cells in their skin called chromatophores, like other cephalopods can. In fact, this color-changing ability has even named them the nickname ”red devil,” which comes from the fact that they turn a bright red color when seemingly angered or irritated — and often do so when brought to the surface by fishers. Humboldt squids are highly social, sometimes forming groups of up to 1,200 individuals, and these flashes of color help them communicate with each other.  They can also change color to camouflage and hide from predators, including sperm whales, large fish, and sharks.

 

 

Scientists do not have an accurate estimate of the current Humbolt squid population, and the threats they face are not well assessed. However, given that this squid is the target of the largest invertebrate fishery in the world, overfishing could potentially pose a risk.

 

 

Oceana campaigns around the world to mitigate the effects of overfishing and increase the number of fisheries with management plans and catch limits in order to rebuild ocean abundance. Learn more and see how you can support this work here. 

 

 

 

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