Humboldt Squid

Fascinating facts about the Humboldt Squid

• A mantle that can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) and weigh up to 50 kg (110 lb).
• When a school of up to 1,200 individuals flashes red and white at 2–4 Hz, this rapid “metachrosis” likely represents intraspecific signaling.
• Tagged individuals zip through the water at up to 24 km/h (15 mph) and migrate vertically from 700 m down to just 200 m each night. Their daily climb brings them into surface waters where they feed, illustrating a perfect blend of speed and timing to exploit prey.
• A single female can release an egg mass up to 4 m (13 ft) across, containing anywhere from 5 000 to 4.1 million eggs.
• During El Niño events, these squid become less clustered, spreading out across the Pacific as warm waters push them farther north. Their shifting range into places like British Columbia highlights how climate swings can redraw the map of marine predators.

At a glance

Seen on screen

More other animals to discover

Browse Feravox