squid

 

carnivorous marine cephalopod mollusk. The squid is one of the most highly developed invertebrates, well adapted to its active, predatory life. The characteristic molluscan shell is reduced to a horny plate shaped like a quill pen and buried under the mantle.

The mantle, the chief swimming organ of the animal, is modified into lengthwise fins along the posterior end of the body and projects forward like a collar around the head. As the mantle relaxes and contracts, the squid swims forward, upward, and downward. Water is expelled in jets from the muscular funnel located just below the head, propelling the squid backward in abrupt jetlike motions. Two of the ten sucker-bearing arms (used to steer in swimming) are tentacles that can seize prey, which is then cut into pieces by the animal's strong beaklike jaws.

The squid breathes through gills, and may emit a cloud of inky material from its ink sac when in danger. The circulatory and nervous systems are highly developed. The eye of the squid is remarkably similar to that of humans—an example of convergent evolution, as there is no common ancestor. Squids are also distinguished by internal cartilaginous supports. Some deep-sea forms have luminescent organs.

The common squid is found from Maine to the Carolinas, often moving in shoals. In the United States tons of squid are used for fish bait, particularly by the cod fisheries in New England. Squid is a favorite food in East Asia and in the Mediterranean area. Species range in size from about 2 in. (5 cm) to the proportions of Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, the colossal squid, which is the largest of all invertebrates and may attain a mantle length of 13 ft (4 m) and total length of 33–46 ft (10–14 m), and the giant squid, Architeuthis dux, which has a mantle length of 7.4 ft (2.25 m) and is known to reach 43 ft (13 m) in total length.

Squids are classified in the phylum Mollusca, class Cephalopoda, order Teuthoidea.

Squid
Mastigoteuthis flammea A species of whip-lash squid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopoda Subclass: Coleoidea Superorder: Decapodiformes Order: Teuthida A. Naef, 1916b
Suborders
†Plesioteuthididae (incertae sedis) Myopsina Oegopsina

Squid are a large, diverse group of marine cephalopods. Like all cephalopods, squid are distinguished by having a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms and two tentacles arranged in pairs.

Modification from ancestral forms

Squid have differentiated from their ancestral molluscs in such a way that the body plan has been condensed antero-posteriorly and extended dorso-ventrally. What before may have been the foot of the ancestor is now modified into a complex set of tentacles and highly developed sense organs, including advanced eyes similar to those of vertebrates.

The shell of the ancestor has been lost, with only an internal gladius, or pen, remaining.

Anatomy

The main body mass of the squid is enclosed in the mantle, which has two swimming fins along each side. It should be noted that these fins, unlike in other marine organisms, are not the main source of ambulation in most species. The skin of the squid is covered in chromatophores, which enable the squid to change color to suit its surroundings. The underside of the squid is also found to be lighter than the topside, in order to provide camouflage from both prey and predator.

Under the body are openings to the mantle cavity, which contains the gills (ctenidia) and openings to the excretory and reproductive systems. At the front of the mantle cavity lies the siphon, which the squid uses for locomotion via precise jet propulsion. This is done by sucking water into the mantle cavity and quickly expelling it out of the siphon in a fast, strong jet. The direction of the siphon can be changed in order to suit the direction of travel.

Inside the mantle cavity, beyond the siphon, lies the visceral mass of the squid, which is covered by a thin, membranous epidermis. Under this are all the major internal organs of the squid.

Reproductive system

In female squid, the ink sac is hidden from view by a pair of white nidamental glands, which lie anterior to the gills. There are also red-spotted accessory nidamental glands. Both of these organs are associated with manufacture of food supplies and shells for the eggs. Females also have a large translucent ovary, situated towards the posterior of the visceral mass.

Male squid do not possess these organs, but instead have a large testis in place of the ovary, and a spermatophoric gland and sac. In mature males, this sac may contain spermatophores, which are placed inside the mantle of the female during mating.

Digestive system

Squid, like all cephalopods, have complex digestive systems. Food is transported into a muscular stomach, found roughly in the midpoint of the visceral mass. The bolus is then transported into the caecum for digestion. The caecum, a long, white organ, is found next to the ovary or testis. In mature squid, more priority is given to reproduction and so the stomach and caecum often shrivel up during the later stages of life. Finally, food goes to the liver (or digestive gland), found at the siphon end of the squid, for absorption. Solid waste is passed out of the rectum. Beside the rectum is the ink sac, which allows a squid to discharge a black ink into the mantle cavity at short notice.

Cardiovascular system

Squid have three hearts. Two branchial hearts, feeding the gills, each surrounding the larger systemic heart that pumps blood around the body. The hearts have a faint greenish appearance and are surrounded by the renal sacs - the main excretory system of the squid. The kidneys are faint and difficult to identify and stretch from the hearts (located at the posterior side of the ink sac) to the liver. The systemic heart is made of three chambers, a lower ventricle and two upper auricles.

Head

The head end of the squid bears 8 arms and two tentacles, each a form of muscular hydrostat containing many suckers along the edge. These tentacles do not grow back if severed. In the mature male squid, one basal half of the left ventral tentacle is hectocotylised — and ends in a copulatory pad rather than suckers. It is used for intercourse between mature males and females.

The mouth of the squid is equipped with a sharp horny beak mainly made of chitin ^[1] and cross-linked proteins, and is used to kill and tear prey into manageable pieces. the beak is very robust, but does not contain any minerals, unlike the teeth and jaws of many other organisms, including marine species.^[2] Captured whales often have squid beaks in their stomachs, the beak being the only indigestible part of the squid. The mouth contains the radula (the rough tongue common to all molluscs except bivalvia and aplacophora).

The eyes, found on either side of the head, each contain a hard lens. The lens is focused by moving, much like the lens of a camera or telescope, rather than changing shape like a human eye.

Size

See also: Giant squid, Colossal Squid, and Cephalopod size

The majority of squid are no more than 60 cm long, although the giant squid may reach 13 m in length. In 2003, a large specimen of an abundant but poorly understood species, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni (the Colossal Squid) was discovered. This species may grow to 14 m in length, making it the largest invertebrate. It also possesses the largest eyes in the animal kingdom. Giant squids are often featured in literature and folklore with a frightening connotation. The Kraken is a legendary tentacled monster possibly based on sightings of real giant squids.

In February 2007, a Colossal Squid weighing 495 kg (1,091 lb). and about 10 metres (33 feet) long, was caught by a New Zealand fishing vessel off the coast of Antarctica.[1] The specimen is currently frozen while scientists plan how best to examine it.

Classification

Squid are members of the class Cephalopoda, subclass Coleoidea, order Teuthida, of which there are two major suborders, Myopsina and Oegopsina (including the giant squids like Architeuthis dux). Teuthida is the largest of the cephalopod orders, edging out the octopuses (order Octopoda) for total number of species, with 298 classified into 28 families.

The order Teuthida is a member of the superorder Decapodiformes (from the Greek for "ten legs"). Two other orders of decapodiform cephalopods are also called squid, although they are taxonomically distinct from Teuthida and differ recognizably in their gross anatomical features. They are the bobtail squid of order Sepiolida and the Ram's Horn Squid of the monotypic order Spirulida. The Vampire Squid, however, is more closely related to the octopuses than to any of the squid.

• CLASS CEPHALOPODA
  • Subclass Nautiloidea: nautilus
  • Subclass Coleoidea: squid, octopus, cuttlefish
    • Superorder Octopodiformes
    • Superorder Decapodiformes
      • ?Order †Boletzkyida
      • Order Spirulida: Ram's Horn Squid
      • Order Sepiida: cuttlefish
      • Order Sepiolida: bobtail squid
      • Order Teuthida: squid
        • Family †Plesioteuthididae (incertae sedis)
        • Suborder Myopsina
          • Family Australiteuthidae
          • Family Loliginidae: inshore, calamari, and grass squid
        • Suborder Oegopsina
          • Family Ancistrocheiridae: Sharpear Enope Squid
          • Family Architeuthidae: giant squid
          • Family Bathyteuthidae
          • Family Batoteuthidae: Bush-club Squid
          • Family Brachioteuthidae
          • Family Chiroteuthidae
          • Family Chtenopterygidae: comb-finned squid
          • Family Cranchiidae: glass squid
          • Family Cycloteuthidae
          • Family Enoploteuthidae
          • Family Gonatidae: armhook squid
          • Family Histioteuthidae: jewel squid
          • Family Joubiniteuthidae: Joubin's Squid
          • Family Lepidoteuthidae: Grimaldi Scaled Squid
          • Family Lycoteuthidae
          • Family Magnapinnidae: bigfin squid
          • Family Mastigoteuthidae: whip-lash squid
          • Family Neoteuthidae
          • Family Octopoteuthidae
          • Family Ommastrephidae: flying squid
          • Family Onychoteuthidae: hooked squid
          • Family Pholidoteuthidae
          • Family Promachoteuthidae
          • Family Psychroteuthidae: Glacial Squid
          • Family Pyroteuthidae: fire squid
          • Family Thysanoteuthidae: rhomboid squid
          • Family Walvisteuthidae
          • Parateuthis tunicata (incertae sedis)

As food

Many species of squid are popular as food in cuisines as diverse and separated as Korean and Italian. In English-speaking countries, it is often known by the name calamari. Individual species of squid are found abundantly in certain areas and provide large catches for fisheries. The body can be stuffed whole, cut into flat pieces or sliced into rings. The arms, tentacles and ink are also edible; in fact, the only part of the squid that is not eaten is its beak and gladius (pen).

There are many ways in which squid is eaten worldwide.

• In Italy, Turkey and Greece, squid rings and arms are often coated in batter and fried in oil. Other recipes from these regions feature squid (or octopus) simmered slowly, often with tomatoes. When frying, the squid flesh is kept tender by keeping the cooking time as short as possible. When simmering, the flesh is most tender when the cooking time is prolonged and reduced in temperature.
• In Spain a similar recipe (Calamares a la romana, battered calamari, lit. roman-style calamari) has the calamari rings covered in a much thicker batter, deep fried and accompanied with lemon juice and mayonnaise or garlic mayonnaise.
• Also in Spain, cooked in its own black ink (Calamares en su tinta).
• In Korea, live squid is freshly taken from a tank, killed and cleaned and served but with still moving tentacles. This type of fresh squid is called san ojingohe (also with small octopi called nakji). The squid is served with wasabi/soy sauce, chili pepper sauce or sesame sauce with salt.
• In the Mediterranean, squid or cuttlefish ink is eaten in a variety of dishes such as paella, risotto, soups and pasta; Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia (cuttlefish) being an example.
• In Croatia squid are often eaten grilled and stuffed with pršut and cheese, accompanied by blitva (Swiss Chard)
• Seafood stews often contain squid.
• In Chinese and South East Asian cuisine, squid is a common ingredient in a variety of dishes such as stir-fries, rice and noodle dishes. It is often heavily spiced.
• Whole grilled squid is a common food item in Asia; they are popular at food stalls in China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. In Sardinia they are accompanied by a sauce made from lemon, garlic, parsley, and olive oil.
• Pre-packaged Dried Shredded Squid or cuttlefish are popular snack items in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, and most other former USSR regions mostly sold in a shredded form due to its chewiness.
• Squid is a common sushi and sashimi item.
• In Japan and Korea, squid (usually Firefly Squid or Spear Squid) is often made into shiokara (in Japanese) or chotkal (in Korean). Heavily salted squid is left to ferment, sometimes with its innards, for up to a month, and is sold in small jars. This salty, strong flavoured item is served in small quantities as an accompaniment to white rice or alcoholic drinks.
• In Korea, dried squid is also a popular accompaniment for alcoholic beverages. Dried squid is often served with peanuts. Squid is also served roasted, with hot pepper paste and/or mayonnaise as a dip sauce. Steamed squid, or boiled squid, is also a delicacy.
• In Turkey, it can be an ingredient in dolma.

In popular culture

The giant squid is featured in Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, in which one attacks Captain Nemo's ship, the Nautilus. It is also featured in the Harry Potter series.

Squid are a recurring theme in Gary Larson's popular one-panel comic strip, The Far Side.

Three species of future squid appeared in The Future Is Wild. They were the ocean-going Rainbow Squid and the two land-dwelling squid known as the Megasquid and the Squibbon.

Squidbillies is an adult cartoon featuring a family of squid hillbillies.

Bloopers are common characters reminiscent of squids found in the Super Mario Bros. series of games by Nintendo.

References

External links

• The Cephalopod Page
• TONMO.com Cephalopod Information Center; Giant Squid expert Dr. Steve O'Shea is on staff.
• Squidcam from New Zealand's The Science Site (very popular site, viewer operated camera on live baby squid).
• CephBase: Teuthida
• MSN Encarta - Squid
• Scientific American - Giant Squidnrm:Cônet

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