Humboldt Squid, Dosidicus gigas
Humboldt Squid, Dosidicus gigas, juvenile. Beach wash-up at Cero Colorado, Baja California Sur, January 2007. Length: 30 cm (11.8 inches).
Humboldt Squid, Dosidicus gigas, juvenile. Collected off the beach Cabo Real, Baja California Sur, January 2020 Length: 40 cm (16 inches).
Humboldt Squid, Dosidicus gigas. Caught from coastal waters off Point Palmilla, Baja California Sur, May 2004. Length: 1.52 m (5 feet 0 inches).
Humboldt Squid, Dosidicus gigas. Caught from coastal waters off Point Palmilla, Baja California Sur, December 2008. Length: 1.52 m (5 feet 0 inches).
The Humboldt Squid, Dosidicus gigas (d’Orbigny, 1835), is a member of the Ommastrepihidae Family of Ommastrephid Squid that is also known as the Jumbo Flying Squid and in Mexico as diablo rojo and calamar giants. There are 3 global members of the Dosidicus Genus.
The Humboldt Squid have strong, muscular, cylindrical bodies that taper posteriorly. Their arms are about half as long as the head and mantle and their fins are half the length of the body. The arms of adult squid have 100 to 200 suckers per arm. The mantle is smooth in texture. There are small photophores on the ventral surface of the arms and body. They are reddish brown to dark brown in color, but quickly turn red when distressed, such as when caught by fishermen. This red color and their aggressive behavior has lead to the local name Diablo Rojo (Red Devil). Humboldt Squid are the largest species in the Ommastrephidae Family, with a maximum mantle length of 1.5 m (5 feet) and can weigh up to 50 kg (110 pounds).
Humboldt Squid are generally found in the open ocean. They are vertical migrators that spend daylight hours at depths between 800 m (2,625 feet) and 1,200 m (3,935 feet) and ascend at night and are found from the surface to 200 m (655 feet) for feeding. They are highly aggressive predators, feeding on amphipods, copepods, fish, pelagic red crabs, euphausids, octopus, shrimp, and other squid. They will also eat juveniles of their own species. In turn they are preyed upon by fur seals, striped marlin, swordfish, large sharks, sperm whales, and short finned pilot whales. They have the ability to breach to avoid predators. They travel in groups of up to 1,200 individuals. They communicate by using their chromatophores to change color. Individuals in this species occasionally strand themselves on beaches, by the hundreds. These squid grow and reproduce quickly. They have a life span of 1 year.
The Humboldt Squid are found throughout the Sea of Cortez with a major concentration from Central Baja California to the Guaymas Basin. They are generally found along the coast of the mainland, but range further out to sea (over 1,000 miles) as they approach the equator.
From a conservation perspective the Humboldt Squid is currently considered to be Data Deficient. They are a target of commercial fishermen on a seasonal basis and can be found year-round in most of the food markets of Mexico. When in residence they are actively pursued by recreational anglers and are one of the most aggressive, cunning and ferocious of all animals on planet earth. They will follow their hooked mates to the boat and can then be caught with a gaff. If you catch one you can catch several, but be prepared to be sprayed with black ink. They are also utilized on a limited basis as a cut bait for bottom fishing but are generally considered to be a poor second choice.
Synonyms include Dosidicus eschrichti, Dosidicus streenstrupii, Ommastrephes giganticus, and Ommastrephes gigas.