Argentine shortfin squid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Argentine shortfin squid |
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| Illex argentinus dissected in the National Museum of Natural History of Uruguay. | |
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Illex
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| Species: |
argentinus
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The Argentine shortfin squid (scientific name: Illex argentinus) is a type of squid. It belongs to the family Ommastrephidae. You can find these squids in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
This squid is one of the most important types caught for food. In 2002, people caught over 511,000 tons of them. This was about 23% of all squid caught that year.
Argentine shortfin squids are very common along the coasts of South America. They are found especially near Brazil and Argentina. Many fishing boats go to these areas to catch millions of pounds of these squids every year. Even though they are not very big, they often gather in large groups. This makes them easy for fishing boats to catch in huge amounts.
Contents
What Do They Look Like?
The Argentine shortfin squid has a strong body, called a mantle. It also has fins that help it swim. Its arms are quite long. Male squids have arms that are much longer than female squids.
Where Do They Live?
Argentine shortfin squids can live in many different ocean depths. They can be found from the surface all the way down to 800 meters (about 2,600 feet). Even though they live in a wide area, they are ocean animals. They often gather together on the seafloor.
These squids eat other small sea creatures. Their diet includes other squids, small crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, and tiny fish. As they grow older, they eat different kinds of prey.
Many animals hunt the Argentine shortfin squid. These predators include marine mammals, different types of fish, and birds. The predators and prey can change depending on where the squids are. This is because Argentine shortfin squids move around a lot. During the fall and winter, you can find many of them on the lower part of the sea shelf. They usually stay at a depth of about 200 meters (about 650 feet) then.
How Do They Live and Grow?
Argentine shortfin squids reproduce by internal fertilization. During the summer, which is their mating season, they lay thousands of eggs. These eggs are laid on the seafloor. The eggs do not all hatch at the same time. They develop at different speeds.
These squids have a short life. They usually live for only one to two years. During their one-year life cycle, they travel a lot. They migrate between places where they lay eggs and places where they feed. Adult squids often travel north to their spawning grounds. At night, they swim closer to the seafloor. During the day, they swim closer to the surface.
When they hatch, these squids are very tiny, only about one millimeter long. They can grow to be about one foot (30 cm) long. Their tentacles can reach about 9 inches (23 cm) in length. After an Argentine shortfin squid reproduces, it usually dies.
Why Are They Important for Fishing?
The Argentine shortfin squid is one of the most important invertebrates for the world's economy. In just one fishing season, people have caught as much as 2.2 billion pounds of these squids. From 1988 to 2003, about 700,000 tons of Argentine shortfin squid were caught each year. This squid fishery is the second largest in the world by weight.
Fishermen use bright lights at night to attract the squids to the surface. Then, they catch them using large nets. They also use special fishing boats called trawlers and jigging vessels. Even though so many squids are caught each year, their populations usually recover. This is probably because they have a short lifespan and reproduce quickly.
Because of this, the Argentine shortfin squid is listed as a species of "least concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. However, since 2010, the number of squids has been slowly going down. Experts think this decline is due to changes in the environment, not just fishing. It is important for countries that fish these squids to work together. This will help make sure the squids are caught in a way that keeps their populations healthy for the future.
See also
In Spanish: Illex argentinus para niños
