Humboldt Squid
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{{Taxobox
| name = Humboldt Squid
| image = Dosidicus gigas.jpg
| image_caption = Humboldt Squid photographed<br>by ROV ''Tiburon''.
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Mollusc]]a
| classis = [[Cephalopod]]a
| ordo = [[Teuthida]]
| familia = [[Ommastrephidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Ommastrephinae]]
| genus = '''''Dosidicus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Japetus Steenstrup|Steenstrup]], [[1857]]
| species = '''''D. gigas'''''
| binomial = ''Dosidicus gigas''
| binomial_authority = ([[Alcide d'Orbigny|Orbigny]], [[1835]])
| synonyms =
*''Ommastrephes gigas''<br><small>Orbigny, 1835</small>
*''Ommastrephes giganteus''<br><small>Gray, 1849</small>
*''Dosidicus eschrichti''<br><small>Steenstrup, 1857</small>
*''Dosidicus steenstrupi''<br><small>Pfeffer, 1884</small>
}}
The '''Humboldt Squid''' (''Dosidicus gigas''), also known as '''Jumbo Squid''', '''Jumbo Flying Squid''', or '''Diablo Rojo (Red Devil)''', is a large, aggressive predatory [[squid]] found in the waters of the [[Humboldt Current]] in the [[Pacific Ocean|Eastern Pacific Ocean]]. They are most commonly found at depths of 200-700 metres (600 to 2300 feet), from [[Tierra del Fuego]] to [[California]]. Recent findings suggest the range of this species is spreading north into the waters of [[Oregon]], [[Washington]], [[British Columbia]] and [[Alaska]].<ref name="simon">[http://www.mbnms-simon.org/other/moreLinks/sporadic_squid.php Humboldt Squid Found in Pebble Beach (2003)]</ref><ref name="pnas">[http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0702043104v1 Invasive range expansion by the Humboldt squid, ''Dosidicus gigas'', in the eastern North Pacific (2007)]</ref> Though they usually prefer deep water, between 1,000 and 1,500 squid washed up on the [[Long Beach Peninsula]] in southwest [[Washington]] in the fall of 2004.<ref>[http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/345666.html Aggressive eating machines spotted on our coast (2008) ]</ref>
== Behavior and general characteristics ==
Humboldt Squid are carnivores that move 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 [[tentacle]]s bear suckers lined with sharp teeth with which they grasp prey and drag it towards a large, sharp beak.
Humboldt Squid are thought to have a lifespan of only about one year (although some researchers believe they may survive up to four years). They may grow to 2 m (7 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 [[chromatophore]]s (specialized skin cells) in what some researchers believe is a complex communication system. Experts have also stated that the animals hunt for their prey, small fish and [[krill]], in a cooperative fashion, which would be the first observation of such behaviour in invertebrates.<ref name="zimmerman">[http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200607/sea-of-cortez-humboldt-squid-1.html Behold the Humboldt squid]. Tim Zimmermann, Outside Magazine, July 2006.</ref> Humboldt squid are known to hunt near the surface at night, taking advantage of the dark to use their keen vision to feed on more plentiful prey. There have been reports of these squid attacking divers and fishermen in the Sea of Cortez.<ref name="cassel">[http://www.deeperblue.net/article.php/696/3/0 Sea of Cortez, 1995]</ref>The shallowest depths Humboldt Squid's daytime habitat are only within reach of the extremes of [[Saturation diving]], so little is known of what they do during the day.
Recent research suggests that the squids are only aggressive while feeding. At other times, they are quite passive. Their behavior while feeding often extends to cannibalism and they've been seen to readily attack injured or vulnerable squids of their own school. This behavior may account for a large proportion of their rapid growth.<ref name="Tennesen">[http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=72&articleID=1006 The Curious Case of the Cannibal Squid], Michael Tennesen, National Wildlife Magazine, Dec/Jan 2005, vol. 43 no. 1.</ref><ref name="discover">[http://discovermagazine.com/2003/apr/guide1 Squid Sensitivity]Discover Magazine April, 2003</ref>
== Body characteristics ==
[[Image:Deadsquid.JPG|thumb|left|A Humboldt Squid that washed up on a [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] shoreline]]
Generally, the tube (or body) constitutes about 40% of the animal's mass, the fin (or wing) about 12%, the tentacles about 14%, the outer skin about 3%, the head (including eyes and beak) about 5%, with the balance (26%) made up of the inner organs.
In circumstances where these animals are not being grossly over-fished, they exhibit very curious and intelligent behavior.<ref>[http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200607/sea-of-cortez-humboldt-squid-1.html Behold the Humboldt Squid | Outside Online<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Recent footage of pods of these animals demonstrates 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), they have attacked deep-sea cameras and rendered them inoperable. Reports of recreational [[scuba]] divers being attacked by Humboldt Squid have been confirmed. One particular diver, Scott Cassell,<ref>[http://www.deeperblue.net/bio.php/159 DeeperBlue.net - Fanatical About FreeDiving, Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Technical Diving<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> who has spent much of his career videotaping this species has developed body armor to protect against attacks.<ref name="deeperblue">Cassell, S. [http://www.deeperblue.net/article.php/696 Dancing with Demons]. [http://www.deeperblue.net Deeper Blue], [[2005-12-15]]</ref> Each of the squid's suckers is ringed with sharp teeth, and the beak itself can tear flesh, although it's believed they lack the jaw strength to crack heavy bone.<ref name="Tennesen">[http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=72&articleID=1006 The Curious Case of the Cannibal Squid], Michael Tennesen, National Wildlife Magazine, Dec/Jan 2005, vol. 43 no. 1.</ref> Nevertheless, they eat their prey by grabbing it with their tentacles and biting it repeatedly with their beak. Working together, several squid are able to devour large prey very quickly.
== Fishing ==
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:INY Dosidicus gigas Entera.JPG|thumb|Humboldt Squid at a processing plant in [[Paita]] , [[Peru]].]]-->
Commercially, this species has been caught to serve the European community market (mainly Spain, Italy and France), Russia, China, Japan, South East Asian and increasingly North and South American markets.
The squid are fished at night, when it is easier to lure them with lights used by fishermen that make the plankton shine, which makes the squid rise to the surface to feed. Since the 1990s, the most important areas for landings of Humboldt Squid are northern [[Peru]] and [[Mexico]].
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.
== See also ==
*[[Cephalopod size]]
*[[Kraken]]
*[[Giant squid]]
*[[Colossal squid]]
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
{{CephBase Species|395}}
* [http://www.sea-wolves.com/anime/squidpresentation.swf Sea Wolves' presentation on Humboldt Squid's physiology and behavior]
* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/07/0718_030718_jumbosquid.html National Geographic: Humboldt Squid]
* [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-squid26mar26,0,5972859.story?coll=la-home-headlines LA Times: Jumbo Squid]
* [http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/774 KQED Humboldt Squid broadcast]
* [http://www.jumbosquid.org JumboSquid.org]
* [http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/345666.html Aggressive Eating Machines, The NewsTribune.com, Tacoma, WA]
[[Category:Squid]]
[[Category:molluscs of Chile]]
[[Category:molluscs of Peru]]
[[fr:Dosidicus gigas]]
[[tr:Humboldt mürekkep balığı]]