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Squid

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The squid is a marine cephalopod similar to the octopus. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms and two tentacles arranged in pairs. Some species of squid are known to have 10 arms!

There are around 300 different species of squid found in the oceans worldwide, with squid being one of the few animals that inhabits the freezing waters of the Antarctic, where they mainly feed on krill and plankton although larger species of squid have also been known to hunt larger prey like fish.

Most species of squid average at about 20 cm in length when they are fully grown although some species will commonly grow to 60 cm long. The Colossal squid that lives in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean has been known to grow to 14 metres long!

Squid are an excellent and therefore common food source for a variety a different animal species in the water but also those predators on land. Squid predators include sharks, penguins, seals and humans.

Generally squid will only get to a few years old in the wild before being eaten. Some of the bigger species of squid however, have been known to reach ages of 15 years old.

Squid Comments (7)

Danny

"Cool"

phoebe

"Thank you, this really helped with my technology project!!!!!!!"

elles

"these are the coolest animals!!!!!! im doing a giant squid dor my science project and they are very interesting!!!:)"

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Squid Facts

Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things...	Animalia
Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom...	Mollusca
Class: A group of animals within a pylum...	Cephalopoda
Order: A group of animals within a class...	Teuthida
Family: A group of animals within an order...	Oegopsina

Scientific Name: Comprised of the genus followed by the species...	Teuthida
Type: The animal group that the species belongs to...	Cephalopod
Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats...	Carnivore
Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is...	22-1,400cm (8.6-551in)
Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is...	0.3-500kg (0.6-1,102lbs)
Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal...	30km/h (18mph)
Life Span: How long the animal lives for...	5-30 years
Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable...	Solitary
Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct...	Least Concern

Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings...	Black, Grey, Brown, White
Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal...	Smooth
Favourite Food:	Fish
Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives...	Cooler and temperate waters
Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once...	5
Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from...	Fish, Crabs, Shrimp
Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal...	Human, Seal, Whales
Special Features:	Long, powerful tentacles and streamline body

Related Animals

	Octopus There are around 300 different species!
	Cuttlefish Found throughout the world's oceans!
	Jellyfish Have tentacles around their mouths!