10 Fun Facts About Squids

Jun 5
2 min read

Updated: Jun 25

Slippery, speedy, and straight out of a sci-fi movie. Squids are some of the ocean’s most astonishing creatures. With arms that flash color, eyes as big as dinner plates, and jet propulsion worthy of a spaceship, squids are full of surprises. But there’s much more to them than tentacles and calamari. In this post, we’re unveiling some fun facts about squids, from their glow-in-the-dark tricks to their deep-sea mysteries.

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Squid Fun Facts

Squids Have 10 Limbs

Unlike octopuses, which have eight arms, squids have ten limbs! They are eight arms and two longer tentacles used for capturing prey.

Highly Intelligent Communicators

Squids are remarkably intelligent. They can rapidly change their skin color using special pigment-filled cells called chromatophores to camouflage, warn off predators, or communicate with other squids through intricate patterns.

Possess the Largest Eyes in the Animal Kingdom

The giant squid has eyes measuring about 10 inches in diameter, the largest in the animal kingdom. These massive eyes help them detect objects in the deep, dark ocean depths where light is scarce.

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Bioluminescent Abilities

Some squid species, like the firefly squid, can produce light through bioluminescence. They have specialized organs called photophores that emit light, which they use for communication and camouflage in the deep sea.

Firefly squids — Firefly Squids (image from Wikimedia, by Circe Denyer)

Fastest Swimming Invertebrates

Squids are among the fastest swimmers in the invertebrate world. They propel themselves by expelling water through a siphon, allowing quick bursts of speed to escape predators.

Ancient Lineage

Squids have been around for millions of years, dating back to the Jurassic era. They evolved over 100 million years ago, making them one of the oldest known cephalopod lineages.

Colossal Squid: The Heaviest Invertebrate

The colossal squid is the heaviest invertebrate on Earth, weighing up to 1,100 pounds. It also has the largest beak of any squid.

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Vampire Squid: Unique Reproductive Strategies

Unlike many squids that reproduce once and die, the vampire squid can reproduce multiple times throughout its life. This strategy allows it to have a longer lifespan compared to other squid species.

Giant Nerve Fibers

Squids have giant axons (nerve fibers) that have been crucial in neuroscience research. These axons are so large that they were used to understand how nerves transmit signals.

Over 300 Known Species

There are over 300 known species of squid, ranging from the tiny pygmy squid to the massive colossal squid. They inhabit oceans all over the world, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea.