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The opalescent squid is a one species of over ten thousand in a group called mollusks: other species of this group include garden snails and slugs. The larger species of this group include the octopus, nautilus, and cuttlefish. These creatures are known for their highly developed brain and eyes. All these creatures have the same basic body make up but the squid have adapted themselves for high-speed water travel.
The opalescent squid has an ability, which no other in his class has; this is the ability to change colors. He uses this ability to communicate and to conceal itself and as a lure. He is able to communicate his feelings with others of his kind; different colors and patterns represent fear, aggression or when it is time to mate. When hunting he can make himself invisible to his prey and then retrieve his colors instantly to surprise his next meal, they become curious and the squid takes this moment to attack. The opalescent squid uses his eight tentacles like arms equipped with several hundred stinging suction like cups to capture his meals. He is equipped with a beak like mouth that is able to tear his food apart. When the squid hunts, he mainly hunts fish and crustaceans. He uses his beak mouth to tear apart the hard shells and remove the inner food source.
The opalescent squid makes his home with many other squid making up schools. These schools of squid are often located in the northern Pacific Ocean. The can be found off the coast of California, western Mexico and Central America. This squid are attracted to light so at night the can be found closer to the surface consuming the moonlight.
These creatures mate in massive quantities, they mate in such frenzy that they die shortly after. The male squid finds several females and mates with each. The male will come together with the female and eject his sperm inside her body, which fills her whole body. The female will then release approximately two hundred to three hundred eggs into her body. Inside the female’s body she is able to take the eggs that are fertilized and combine them into sacs. She then lays these sacks on the oceans floor and swims off to die. The male then makes a final run of fertilizing to insure the birth of the new generation. He then also swims off to die.
Because of the numbers of squid that are produced even though after the squid mates it dies, the opalescent squid’s population is still stable. The real threat to the opalescent squid and other marine animals is water pollution.
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