Swarms of carnivorous giant flying squid terrorise southern Californian coast

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:37 PM EDT

Article Source: Guardian Unlimited

odd-news, tasting, carnivores, tentacles, divers-cephalopods, giant-flying-squid

Jumbo flying squid have invaded the shallow waters off San Diego, California, spooking scuba divers and beachgoers after washing up dead on the beaches.

The carnivorous cephalopods, which weigh up to 45kg (100lb), came up from the depths last week, with swarms of them roughing up unsuspecting divers. Some reported tentacles enveloping their masks and yanking at their cameras and gear.

Published to:

Glinda's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: none
Regions: none

Public Discussion (7)

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

5.6

{"commentId":8285482,"authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

Glinda

So according to that video linked in the article they don't actually FLY so why the term flying squid? I don't know although I wouldn't enjoy being tentacle-tasted by one of these red devis.

{"commentId":8285482,"threadId":"629808","contentId":"3037859","authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

2 votes

#1 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":8286487,"authorDomain":"tennessee-whiskey"}

Tennessee Whiskey

The squid causing the problem is the Humboldt, also known as jumbo flying squid, thus the sensationalistic article title. As for the reason for the "flying" part of the name, I assume it has to do with their method of locomotion, flapping their "wings" rapidly, etc.

{"commentId":8286487,"threadId":"629808","contentId":"3037859","authorDomain":"tennessee-whiskey"}

1 vote

#2 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":8286780,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

gladbutterfly

This could get interesting. Humbolt squid are fascinating cepalopods, but then I'm biased toward tentacly beasties.

{"commentId":8286780,"threadId":"629808","contentId":"3037859","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

1 vote

#3 - Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":8288878,"authorDomain":"tennessee-whiskey"}

Tennessee Whiskey

I'm a fan of the biggies, like architeuthis (giant squid) and mesonychoteuthis (colossal squid) species. Squid like the colossal actually have a wide range they hunt in too. Scary stuff. LOL giants and colossals are one of the main reasons I stay away from the ocean. I know what's down there, even if the odds are one in a billion I'd get snatched by something big n' creepy like that. Benchley's Beast remains a fave.

{"commentId":8288878,"threadId":"629808","contentId":"3037859","authorDomain":"tennessee-whiskey"}

3 votes

#4 - Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":8289735,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

gladbutterfly

I am considering reincarnating as one next time around. I'd love to be able to display beautiful skin patterns like they do. One type, maybe the Humbolt, has a vicious sex life tho, so that's also a consideration:-)

{"commentId":8289735,"threadId":"629808","contentId":"3037859","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":8292142,"authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

Glinda

You guys are a bit kinky on squids ;-)

GladButterfly - I knew octopi had camouflage capabilities, are you saying squid do too? Just when I thought it was safe...

{"commentId":8292142,"threadId":"629808","contentId":"3037859","authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

2 votes

#4.2 - Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":8292996,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

gladbutterfly

Why squid change color
Squid skin is translucent. Color comes from pigment cells, called
chromatophores, located in the outer layer of skin. These
chromatophores appear as small patches or dots.
Chromatophores in California market squid contain red, yellow,
or brownish-black pigments. Muscles controlled by nerve fibers
control the chromatophores. Different nerve fibers control
different colored chromatophores. This allows the squid to
selectively retract or expand sets of chromatophores and to
increase or decrease the amount of a selected color. By
expanding the red chromatophores, as squid may do when
excited, the squid will flush with a bright red color. Rapidly
retracting all the chromatophores reduces all the colors and
the squid appears colorless.

{"commentId":8292996,"threadId":"629808","contentId":"3037859","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

1 vote

#4.3 - Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:46 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"629808","isPrivate":false}

GLINDA

Backyard

Swarms of carnivorous giant flying squid terrorise southern Californian coast

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF:

	Palestinians and Jerry Seinfeld	Guardian Unlimited	Sat Jul 18	0
	Pickled chameleon fumes spark 999 alert	Guardian Unlimited	Sat Jul 18	1