FEB. '06 NEWS: Humboldt Squid invade Los Cabos.

Feb. 12, 2006: Humboldt Squid invade Los Cabos...an awesome phenomenon! Ever catch a squid that weighs 80 lbs.? Every year the other worldy creatures come to the waters of los Cabos and provide memorable experiences for anglers and brave divers.

The Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas), also known as the Jumbo Squid or Jumbo Flying Squid, is a large, aggressive predatory squid found in the waters of the Humboldt Current in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They are most commonly found at depths of 200-700 metres (600 to 2300 feet), from Tierra del Fuego to California. There is some evidence that they are spreading north into the waters of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.

Humboldt Squid are social animals, hunting in schools of up to 1200 individuals. They swim at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h, 13 knots) propelled by water ejected through a hyponome (siphon) and by two diamond shaped fins. Their tentacles bear barbed suckers with which they grasp prey and drag it towards a mouth containing a large, sharp beak.

Humboldt Squid have a lifespan of only about one year, though they may grow to 2 m (6 ft)and weigh 45 kg (100 pounds), growing at an astounding rate. They can rapidly change their skin colour from deep purplish red to white using chromatophores, specialized skin cells, in what appears to be a complex communication system. Their colouring and aggressive reputation has earned them the nickname diablos rojos (red devils) from fishermen off the coast of Mexico, as they flash red and white when struggling with the fishermen. The squid are fished at night, when they rise to the surface to feed. Hand-lines with luminous jigs are used to attract and catch the squid, which are sold as a delicacy in the Far East.

There are numerous accounts of the squid attacking fishermen and divers in the area and cannibalistic behaviour is regularly seen, but only when they are being fished. There is growing evidence that such behavior is an anomalous and possibly even a result of the intense stress of being fished and killed in large numbers. When observed away from the squid-fishing boats, they appear gentle and curious. It appears they hunt for prey, small fish and krill, in a cooperative fashion, which if actually the case, would be the first such observed in non-vertebrates.