Humboldt Squid: Alluring Creatures of the Deep

Carrie Vonderhaar, OFS chief expedition photographer, captured these amazing images while on expedition with marine biologist & OFS expedition diver, Holly Lohuis, in the Sea of Cortez.

As the sun sets along the Sea of Cortez, curious creatures begin to emerge from the dark depths of the sea. From nearly 2,000 feet below, the Humboldt squid begins its nightly journey towards the surface to feed on the plentiful array of prey inhabiting the shallow waters. Reaching lengths of up to six feet and weighing nearly one hundred pounds, the Humboldt squid is not only one of the world’s largest squids, but also one of the ocean’s most formidable predators. These animals possess extraordinary eyesight, a razor-sharp beak, and eight tentacles lined with hundreds of barbed-like hooks on their suckers, which they use to grasp and tear apart prey. Humboldt squid are also capable of rapid changes in the texture and color of their skin, which is mediated by specialized cells on their body called chromatophores. When distressed, the animals elicit a bright red color, giving them their infamous nickname from Mexican fisherman, “Diablo rojo” or “red devil.”

© Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society

However, the Humboldt squid is much more than just a voracious carnivore. Like other cephalopods, the Humboldt squid has a well-developed nervous system and has been observed in the wild exhibiting social behaviors such as communication and cooperative hunting, behaviors unseen in other invertebrate species. Traveling in shoals of up to 1,500 individuals, Humboldt squid communicate with one another through visual cues by alternating the pattern and colors of their skin. By flashing bright red when angered or irritated, Humboldt squid may be communicating danger to one another, or otherwise expressing hostility or aggression. Yet they have also been observed to be highly curious and inquisitive animals, and as the OFS team has witnessed first-hand, they will approach divers with a seemingly friendly and openly curious approach.

© Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society

Normally inhabiting the relatively warm waters ranging from the tip of South America to the central coast of California, Humboldt squid have begun to expand their range and in recent years have been seen traveling as far north as Alaska. This marks a potential change in ocean conditions as animals once restricted by the cold waters of the north have now been seen thriving in warming water of these northern pacific regions. Their adaptability to a changing climate may consequently lead an alteration in ecosystem food webs, as these animals are highly capable and efficient predators.

© Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society

In recent years fisheries such as Pacific hake have been greatly reduced in response to the increased prevalence of Humboldt squid, and there are concerns about their potential influence on other fisheries, including the highly economic Alaskan salmon industry. On top of the decline in the Humboldt’s predators, namely large fish, these squid may continue to move up the northern coast and have the potential to threaten not only the future of the regions fisheries but may also threaten to alter entire dynamics of these coastal ecosystems.

© Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society

Massive, intelligent, and at times voracious, Humboldt squid are truly captivating creatures. However, their expansion along the coast and potential influence on northern Pacific ecosystems demonstrate that we still have a lot to learn about our impacts on the ocean.

© Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society