Humboldt squid | Squid fish

The Humboldt squid, also known as jumbo squid, jumbo flying squid, pota or diablo rojo, is a large, predatory squid living in the waters of the Humboldt Current in the eastern Pacific Ocean. These large squid migrate vertically (diel migration) to follow their prey, from depths of over 1,000m during the day to the surface waters at night. Dosidicus gigas is the only species of the genus Dosidicus of the subfamily Ommastrephinae, family Ommastrephidae. The binomial name of Humboldt squid is Dosidicus gigas.

Humboldt squid are carnivorous marine invertebrates that move in shoals of up to 1,200 individuals. They capture their prey with their tentacles and suckers and rip it apart with their powerful beak. Like other cephalopods, Humboldt squid can change color, flashing bright red when angered or excited - giving rise to their name 'the red devil'. They swim at speeds of up to 24 km/h (15 mph; 13 kn) propelled by water ejected through a hyponome (siphon) and by two triangular fins.

Scientific classification/ facts of Humboldt squid:

Kingdom:         Animalia

Phylum:            Mollusca

Class:   Cephalopoda

Order:  Teuthida

Family: Ommastrephidae

Subfamily:         Ommastrephinae

Genus:  Dosidicus

Steenstrup, 1857

Species:            D. gigas