Ommastrephes bartamil - Red Squid - Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - 2012-05-17

Description:

Description: English: A neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) -- also known as a red flying squid, and red squid -- on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. These squid were first identified in Russia in 1821. They are found in subtropical and temperate oceans all over the world (except the Mediterranean). They get their "neon" name from a long silvery strip on the underside of their body (or "mantle"). Adult males grow to about a foot long, but females (like in most squid) are much larger and reach 1.5 feet in length. They have 12 tenatacles, two of which are much longer than the others. Two of the short ones also have long, triangular membranes on them. The tentacles have suckers on them, and the long tentacles have toothed suckers toward the end of the arm (the better to snag a fish with). Unlike other squid, these can't flash or change color. The color-changing spots they do have are small and only located irregularly on the bottom of the squid. Neon flying squids move very quickly through the water to catch their prey. They are "flying" squid because sometimes they actually launch themselves out of the water. The traingular membranes on their tentacles help them actually glide through the air -- and there is evidence that neon flying squid actually flap their membrances like wings to fly and not just glide. Like other squid, neon flying squid come to the surface at night to feed. During the day, they descend to 1,000 to 2,300 feet down to rest and hide. They are migratory squid, and live about a year. Spawning occurs year round, but the hatchlings move toward colder waters to grow up. Date: 17 May 2012. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23165290@N00/7282106586/. Author: Tim Evanson.