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aberdeenwriter · Jan 19, 2006, 10:56 PM

I've known this for a year or so but the Discovery Channel show on Humboldt Squids reminds me that not everyone knows that squid are killers. Literally. They will take human life, they will kill sharks. They are smart and vicious.

Check it out.

http://www.ocean.com/resource.asp?re...p;locationid=2

There is an alien intelligence residing deep within the Monterey Bay, a bizarre life form that appears to be proliferating by the thousands in cold black waters far below the surface. It resides within creatures that have three hearts, primate-like stereoscopic eyes, blue blood and brains large enough to suggest they are among the smartest creatures on earth. They are giant raptorial predators with a taste for flesh. Growing up to seven feet long and occasionally bigger—possibly much bigger—these carnivores seize their prey with two lightning-fast, hook-laden tentacle clubs, draw it into a squirming nest of eight arms and proceed to tear chunks of flesh from its body with a disproportionately large, razor-sharp, parrot-like beak.

They are notorious cannibals. They have been called the most opportunistic killers in the sea. They have been observed employing cooperative hunting techniques, yet they will not hesitate to gorge upon one another should they sense the slightest possible opening. Although they primarily hunt fish, they have been rumored to kill and eat small mammals, even dogs. They will attack anything over which they sense an advantage, including humans. Divers recount breathtaking beatings, painful lacerations from their sharp hooks and even incidences where, working in teams, these animals have dragged divers into deeper water to subdue them.

They are Dosidicus gigas or Humboldt Squid, the fiercest of all the cephalopods, and for reasons unknown to science, they are appearing in huge numbers along the West Coast, from the Gulf of Mexico to Southeast Alaska, including a sizable population right here in the Monterey Bay.

http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/...le.cover_story

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 11:02 PM

I watched the show a month ago, they didn't seem that scary. Plus they are found at 150 feet bellow so I don't know how anyone would run into them without wanting to.

Kerrigan · Jan 19, 2006, 11:18 PM

The deepest which I've ever gone diving is about 110ft, which I doubt is far down enough to encounter any sort of giant squid.

Like Leia's Left Ball said, it's probably not something any of us have to worry about.

festeringwounds · Jan 19, 2006, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

I watched the show a month ago, they didn't seem that scary. Plus they are found at 150 feet bellow so I don't know how anyone would run into them without wanting to.

The show I saw on them said they were viscious when in a 'feeding frenzy' but otherwise fairly docile and curious, just like almost any other animal known to man.

aberdeenwriter · Jan 19, 2006, 11:26 PM

What about the Mexican fisherman, hmmm? He wasn't at 150 feet.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by aberdeenwriter

What about the Mexican fisherman, hmmm? He wasn't at 150 feet.

They pull them up in nets and think they are nasty. The eat humans if they drown and sink to 150 feet. So does any fish.

Tesseract · Jan 19, 2006, 11:43 PM

Yeah, and what's a dog doing 150 feet underwater?

SpaceMonkey · Jan 19, 2006, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

The deepest which I've ever gone diving is about 110ft, which I doubt is far down enough to encounter any sort of giant squid.

Like Leia's Left Ball said, it's probably not something any of us have to worry about.

Wikipedia says they rise to the surface at night to feed, which is also when Mexican fishermen attempt to catch them.

So I guess people who dive at night could be worried. Not sure if that's something people actually do.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Tesseract

Yeah, and what's a dog doing 150 feet underwater?

"they have been rumored to kill and eat small mammals, even dogs."

Or perhaps it was Bigfoot that ate the dog.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 19, 2006, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Wikipedia says they rise to the surface at night to feed, which is also when Mexican fishermen attempt to catch them.

So I guess people who dive at night could be worried. Not sure if that's something people actually do.

Well in that show they went in the middle of the night and had to go down to 150 feet with flashing lights before they showed up.

SpaceMonkey · Jan 20, 2006, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

Well in that show they went in the middle of the night and had to go down to 150 feet with flashing lights before they showed up.

The article that aberdeenwriter quoted about the "mugging" says they were diving at 30-45 feet.

Spook E · Jan 20, 2006, 12:10 AM

What about this bad boy!

200kgs and bigger than the bloke in the background, lives off the coast of Japan and is starting to spread to more distant waters according to Arstechnica.

**** yourselves chaps, were all krill for our new Octopudian Overlords!

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 20, 2006, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

The article that aberdeenwriter quoted about the "mugging" says they were diving at 30-45 feet.

Fine, but without scuba gear at night you ain't gonna hit em.

festeringwounds · Jan 20, 2006, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

They pull them up in nets and think they are nasty. The eat humans if they drown and sink to 150 feet. So does any fish.

I think we must have seen the same show. Whatever. They're underwater animals. They aren't man killers or anything. Somebody's just trying to hype something up. LOOK OUT! RATS! I HEAR THEY EAT PEOPLE IF YOU LEAVE THEM UNDER SOME LEAVES!

CanadaRAM · Jan 20, 2006, 12:30 AM

Mmm. Sushi.

Eug Wanker · Jan 20, 2006, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by Spook E

**** yourselves chaps, were all krill for our new Octopudian Overlords!

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 20, 2006, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by festeringwounds

I think we must have seen the same show. Whatever. They're underwater animals. They aren't man killers or anything. Somebody's just trying to hype something up. LOOK OUT! RATS! I HEAR THEY EAT PEOPLE IF YOU LEAVE THEM UNDER SOME LEAVES!

The one I am talking about is where the guy makes that flashlight device that flashes to try to communicate with them. I still have it on my PVR cuz it was so interesting.

Giant Squid and Nautilus' are my favourite sea animals.

aberdeenwriter · Jan 20, 2006, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

The one I am talking about is where the guy makes that flashlight device that flashes to try to communicate with them. I still have it on my PVR cuz it was so interesting.

Giant Squid and Nautilus' are my favourite sea animals.

LLB, you must be verry, verry careful! I hear that squid are killers. Literally. They will take human life, they will kill sharks. They are smart and vicious!

aberdeenwriter · Jan 20, 2006, 01:20 AM

analogika · Jan 20, 2006, 02:37 AM

Yeah, and Bowie's a lying thief because I saw him play one on TV.

aberdeenwriter · Jan 20, 2006, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by analogika

Yeah, and Bowie's a lying thief because I saw him play one on TV.

You too, huh?

ROFLMAO

That is VERY funny!

Eriamjh · Jan 20, 2006, 06:24 AM

wdlove · Jan 20, 2006, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Spook E

What about this bad boy!

200kgs and bigger than the bloke in the background, lives off the coast of Japan and is starting to spread to more distant waters according to Arstechnica.

**** yourselves chaps, were all krill for our new Octopudian Overlords!

Beautiful and scary.