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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 (2)

ysabel

"kinda cool....."

Emily

"There are so many different animals in our world,sometimes i wounder how animals get thier names."

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Squid Facts

Kingdom: A level of classifying all living things on earth, as similar species are broken into 5 groups including plants, animals and fungi....	Animalia
Phylum: A level of classifying animals within the animal kingdom. Phylum are further divided into subgroups called classes....	Mollusca
Class: A level of classifying animals in a phylum. Classes are then sub-divided into further groups known as orders....	Cephalopoda
Order: A level used to classify animals. Classes are broken into sub-groups known as order, which are broken down further into families....	Teuthida
Family: A level of classifying animals within an order. Orders are broken down in families and families are broken down further into smaller groups called genus....	Oegopsina

Scientific Name:	Teuthida
Type:	Cephalopod
Diet:	Carnivore
Size:	22-1,400cm (8.6-551in)
Weight:	0.3-500kg (0.6-1,102lbs)
Top Speed:	30km/h (18mph)
Life Span:	5-30 years
Lifestyle:	Solitary
Conservation Status: The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation s...	Least Concern

Colour:	Black, Grey, Brown, White
Skin Type:	Smooth
Favourite Food:	Fish
Habitat: The term habitat is used to describe a specific area where a particular animal lives, within an environment. Many animals have adapted to requiring specific conditions which can only be found in their natural habitat su...	Cooler and temperate waters
Average Litter Size:	5
Main Prey: When an animal is referred to prey, it means that the animal is either hunted or caught for food. Animals that are referred to as prey are generally hunted by bigger animals, although there are a number of exceptions....	Fish, Crabs, Shrimp
Predators: When an animal is referred to as a predator, it means that the animal either hunts or catches other animals. Predatory animals are generally dominant within their environment and will generally hunt animals smaller than...	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!