Squids, squids, squids!

We here at this blog love our squids. We love the fact that they look squishy, are squishy, and can sometimes freak out the best of us.  And humans react to encounters with uncommon species in a way that puts our evolutionary logic to shame.  Squids are our friends, no matter what.

So what's the hub-bub about?  Check out the inflated news about the Humboldt Squid, or as they're known in Mexico...el Squidos, taco-tossers.  Just kidding, we're pretty sure they're not into tacos.  But seriously, they tend to hang around warmer waters, so they typically call Mexico home.

These muscular and aggressive members of the cephalopod class (if you wanna get nerdy, family Ommastrephidae) are typically found in deep waters as cephalopods are wont to do.  There are incredible things about Humboldt squids.  Their lifespans are usually very short (on average one year), they grow rapidly during the little time they have (a five-footer is typical), and creepily enough because they are voracious hunters they have been documented to cannibalize their own.  They form shoals that exceed 1,000 or more squids at any one time.  That might account for the cannibalism ("man I'm hungry, what's around here?  another squid!").  But aside from that, they're your normal Giant Squid variety.

The phenomenon of the squids migrating to CA is another interesting sign of the dramatic environmental changes we are creating in the world.  You think we have it rough with hotter summers and warmer winters it's nothing compared to the rest of the animal kingdom that do not have self-contained boxes of comfort.  The squids are following weather and food patterns.  This should not be surprising.  We have seen it in thousands of species, most notably polar bears and tunas.  Breeds are dying off because food sources are becoming scarce and subsequently damages or breaks links in the food chain.

Californians are freaked yes, sure, but this surprise appearance of Humboldts will be short-lived.  They will either fall back into their normal pattern and return to deeper waters or they will be the object of intense hatred-fueled hunting off the coasts.  We can only hope it's the former.

So remember, should you meet the Humboldt whilst you vacation anywhere exotic (or CA), don't egg it on (you will most likely lose) and don't poke at it if it washes ashore.