Squid

A squid is an aquatic cephalopod mollusc, with eight arms and two tentacles (like antennae), known for its abilities at camouflage, accomplished using special skin cells called chromatophores, and producing ink clouds. There are a large number of species spread across the oceans of the globe. The largest type, the Colossal Squid, can grow to upwards of 46 feet in length from the tip of the caudal fin the end of the tentacles, while a number of species are only a few inches in length. Squid are distantly related to Octopuses and cuttlefish, as all are cephalopods.

In recent years, the popularity of calamari and other squid dishes have caused their numbers to dwindle. They are also sensitive to temperature changes and have suffered as a result of global warming. Squid are an important food source for many species, such as salmon and tuna as well as many whales and seabirds, and their decline is having a negative impact on those populations.^[1]

Squid, though short-lived, are highly intelligent. Most are active predators.^[2] Squids are also fairly common in mythology, in which giant squid known as "kraken" sink ships at sea.

References[edit]

1. ↑ "Human overfishing starves dolphins, sharks, seabirds: study"
2. ↑ "Behold the Humboldt Squid"