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Have You Heard of Flying Squid?

Have You Heard of Flying Squid?

Written by Noreen
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Published on December 16, 2010

You’ve probably heard of flying fish and the famed giant squid or colossal squid that lurks in the depths of the ocean, but have you heard of the Flying Fish? Flying fish are well known for their aerial prowess, but flying mollusks?!

The bizarre sight of airborne cephalopods, is not something heard of very often and is even rarer to be captured on camera. However, recently Metro.co.uk (Click to see) did a feature on British photographer Graham Ekins, who was lucky to witness and picture flying squid in the waters south of Japan.

Native to the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, in the area surrounding Japan, and extending to the coast of China up to Russia, then spreading across the Bering Straight over towards the lower coast of Alaska and Canada, this species of squid comes from the Ommastrephidae family. The squid features a siphon like tube that works like natures jet propulsion and aides its launch out of the water. So by filling it’s soft muscular mantle up with water, the squid quickly contracts its body to send the trapped water shooting through its flexible tube like siphon below its head and propels it out of the water. It also extends its fins and flares its tentacles in a radial pattern while airborne, proving that it’s posture and guided flight is more than just an accidental flopping out of water. The unusual squid is said to be able to leap out of the sea and fly up to 50-65ft in the air, nearly 50 times its body length.

According to research and studies on these bizarre flying squid, the squid takes to the air when startled by boats, to pounce on swift prey or in order to escape intimidating predators. While marine biologists are still unsure of all the the mechanics of squid aeronautics, one thing is certain…they can fly!

So the next time you see a torpedo shaped creature shoot out of the water that seems out of the ordinary, take a closer look to see if you just happened to see this amazing phenomenon of nature. Squid on the Wing!