What do Squid Eat
Squid are a marine creature, from the cephalopod family, with eight arms arranged in pairs and two longer tentacles. Squid are strong swimmers and some of the 300 species of the squid can fly above the water for short distances. The squid’s main body is enclosed in a mantle which has fin-like protrusions for swimming. Squid have translucent underbellies and dark, splotches on the top to provide camouflage from predators. Squid are a saltwater species and are not found in freshwater.
The Diet of a Squid
The squid has a large, bony beak that is uses to tear its prey to pieces for consumption. The squid uses its tentacles to grasp prey that swims passed it. They then use their other eight arms to hold the prey as they pull it to pieces using their sharp beak. Squid often eat animals such as fish, shrimp, crabs, oysters and other squid. They are very fast-moving so are able to catch a variety of marine species. Giant squid will eat larger prey such as young sharks and whales. Small squid often hunt together in small groups as this enables them to surround and herd schools of fish.
Interesting facts about squid
What Do Dolphins Eat
Squid swim backwards as this allows them to take in seawater through their chin and they are able to squirt this out quickly to propel themselves through the water.
Many whales are found with squid beaks still in their stomachs as they cannot be digested.
The majority of Squid are no more than 60 centimetres (24 in) long, although the giant squid may reach 13 metres (43 ft).
Squid have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom.
In February 2007, a New Zealand fishing vessel caught a Colossal Squid weighing 495 kilograms (1,090 lb) and measuring around 10 metres (33 ft) off the coast of Antarctica.
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