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Squid are cephalopods that are a member of the mollusc family. They have eight arms and two long tentacles. They are ocean predators that move through the water by swimming backwards and pushing water behind them with their arms.
Squid have existed since the Jurassic period. They are soft-bodied, like octopuses, and move using a process called jet propulsion. They have two large eyes which they can use to detect prey, and they have two tentacles that are longer than their arms which are usually hidden, but can be thrust out to catch prey.
Squid have a long body composed of a large head, a beak and eight arms. The arms are used to help them move through the water. Squid have suckers at the end of their long tentacles which makes it easier to grab hold of prey. The beak of a squid is located in the middle of its eight arms, and the tentacles pull prey into the squid's beak when it catches prey.
Squid are very intelligent, and they sometimes work together to catch prey. Some squid can also change colour to avoid predators as a form of camouflage, and some species of squid can light up to distract predators using something called bioluminescence.
Squid are carnivores, and will feed on fish and crustaceans. Some types of squid will even eat other squid. Different types of squid eat different things, but some fish and crustaceans that are known to be eaten by squid include lantern fish, orange roughy, oysters, shrimp and crabs.
Squid have a very varied habitat, with some species living in shallow waters and others living in some of the deepest parts of the ocean. However, there are no species of squid that are found in freshwater, so you won't find them in rivers, ponds or lakes. All species of squid live in the sea. Some squid like to stay near to rocks, whilst others live in open waters.
Squid are capable of something called adaptive camouflage, which lets them blend in with their surroundings by changing colour to hide from predators. Squid can also shoot out a jet of ink to distract predators while the make a quick getaway. Some larger species of squid can also protect themselves with their arms and tentacles, and squid have even been seen fighting sharks!
Squid are eaten by several other predatory creatures such as seals, sharks, seabirds and even whales. Young squid are sometimes eaten by fish. Squid are also eaten by humans, and are often called calamari when cooked. Calamari is usually fried, and consists of the squid tentacles or squid rings, which are made from the body.
Squid will court mates using displays, which often involve changing colour to show a wide array of bright colours and may also involve complex movements of the fins and arms. Squid lay eggs, which are tiny, and some species of Squid attach the eggs to their bodies for safety whilst others let the eggs float freely in water until they hatch.
There are myths and legends of giant sea creatures in many cultures, include Greek and Norse mythology. One of the most famous is the story of the Kraken, which is often depicted as a giant squid or octopus that is large enough to attack boats and grab people with their tentacles.
Thankfully, the Kraken doesn't exist, although there are some species of squid that can grow very large, such as the Giant squid which can be up to 5 metres long, and the even larger Colossal squid which can grow to an incredible 10 metres long. None of these species of squid are known to attack humans.
There are several squid related resources available to download, such as this Squid Poster which is absolutely free and makes a great addition to a classroom display about sea creatures or unique types of animals. You can also download this Make a Squid Paper Craft activity, which is fantastic for adding a fun arts and crafts project into your lesson plan.
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