Humboldt Squid
Humboldt Squid
Dosidicus gigas
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Teuthida
Suborder: Oegopsina
Family: Ommastephidae
Genus: Dosidicus
Species: Dosidicus gigas
Ecological
Geographic range:
Receives its name from its main location - the Humboldt Current
This current is found in the East Pacific Ocean region
The Humboldt squids are sometimes found along the coastal region of California, Oregon, Alaska and Washington
Generally, found about 2,300 feet below surface
Enter shallow waters to lay eggs
Trophic level:
Sharks, dolphins, whales, tuna swordfish, many types of rays as well as an abundance of crustaceans, mollusks, fish of all sizes, and other cephalopods such as octopus can be found in the food web of the Humboldt
The Humboldt is occupies a relatively high trophic level
It feeds on krill and small species of fish
Predators:
Sperm whales, sharks, seals, swordfish, and marlin feed on Humboldt squids of all sizes, while gulls and large fish often capture juveniles
Parasites include Chromidina elegans, a ciliate protozoan that lives inside the renal organs of the Humboldt
Life Cycle:
Average life span is 1 year; however, some can live up to 2 years
Spend much of their short life in the ocean’s oxygen-minimum zone
Come up at night to feed
After 200 days, the squids reach sexual maturity
They die shortly after mating
Physiological
Development
Bilateral symmetry
Arms and tentacles - 8 arms and 2 retractable tentacles
Mantle - hollow structure and so internal organs are all exposed directly to the ocean water
Funnel - water is pumped from out of the mantle to the funnel, which allows squids to move
Fins - are used for both maintaining position and generating thrust
Chromatophores - tiny elastic sacs of pigment. The Humboldt squid can turn their entire bodies from red to white to red again in less than one second
Digestive system:
Complete and ciliated
Mouth, anus and complex stomach
Use of a duck like beak to break up food
Dosidicus gigas
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Teuthida
Suborder: Oegopsina
Family: Ommastephidae
Genus: Dosidicus
Species: Dosidicus gigas
Ecological
Geographic range:
Receives its name from its main location - the Humboldt Current
This current is found in the East Pacific Ocean region
The Humboldt squids are sometimes found along the coastal region of California, Oregon, Alaska and Washington
Generally, found about 2,300 feet below surface
Enter shallow waters to lay eggs
Trophic level:
Sharks, dolphins, whales, tuna swordfish, many types of rays as well as an abundance of crustaceans, mollusks, fish of all sizes, and other cephalopods such as octopus can be found in the food web of the Humboldt
The Humboldt is occupies a relatively high trophic level
It feeds on krill and small species of fish
Predators:
Sperm whales, sharks, seals, swordfish, and marlin feed on Humboldt squids of all sizes, while gulls and large fish often capture juveniles
Parasites include Chromidina elegans, a ciliate protozoan that lives inside the renal organs of the Humboldt
Life Cycle:
Average life span is 1 year; however, some can live up to 2 years
Spend much of their short life in the ocean’s oxygen-minimum zone
Come up at night to feed
After 200 days, the squids reach sexual maturity
They die shortly after mating
Physiological
Development
Bilateral symmetry
Arms and tentacles - 8 arms and 2 retractable tentacles
Mantle - hollow structure and so internal organs are all exposed directly to the ocean water
Funnel - water is pumped from out of the mantle to the funnel, which allows squids to move
Fins - are used for both maintaining position and generating thrust
Chromatophores - tiny elastic sacs of pigment. The Humboldt squid can turn their entire bodies from red to white to red again in less than one second
Digestive system:
Complete and ciliated
Mouth, anus and complex stomach
Use of a duck like beak to break up food