Name: Humboldt Squid
Information: A large, aggressive predatory squid that can grow to six feet, Humboldt squid are found in the waters of the eastern Pacific, ranging from Tierra del Fuego north to California. The squid live at depths of 660 to 2,300 feet. They are carnivores that move in schools of up to 1200 individuals. They can swim at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour, and can grow up to 6 ft long and weigh up to 100 pounds. They can rapidly change their skin color from deep purple to red to white which researchers believe is a complex communication system. This squid is known to attack divers and fisherman mostly when they are being fished. Their tentacles bear barbed suckers that they use to grasp prey to drag it towards a mouth containing a large, sharp beak. In mythical lore, the Humboldt squid is probably the creature that gave birth to the Kraken, a mythological sea monster of Norse and Icelandic origins. For more information visit: Smithsonian