Orangeback flying squid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orangeback flying squid |
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The orangeback flying squid, also known as the orangeback squid, is a type of cephalopod. Cephalopods are a group of sea animals that includes squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish. This squid lives in the warm, tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It can be found in the ocean's upper layers, down to about 200 meters (656 feet) deep. Its scientific name is Sthenoteuthis pteropus.
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What Does the Orangeback Flying Squid Look Like?
Like other squid, the orangeback flying squid has a body that is the same on both sides (this is called bilateral symmetry). It has a head with two eyes, eight arms, and two long tentacles. Its main body is a fleshy, muscular part called the mantle.
The squid's head cannot be pulled back into its body. Its arms have rounded tips. The third pair of arms has a noticeable ridge on the outside. The two tentacles are thin. At their ends, they have rows of large, toothed suckers and smaller suckers. These help the squid catch its food.
The mantle is shaped like a cylinder. It gets a little narrower towards the back. At the very end, there is a wide, diamond-shaped fin. This fin helps the squid move and steer in the water.
This squid has special parts called photophores on its head, mantle, and fourth arms. These photophores produce light, a process called bioluminescence. There is a bright, orange oval shape on the top front of its mantle. This is a patch of concentrated light-producing organs. The orangeback flying squid can grow to about 65 centimeters (26 inches) long. Its fin can be about three-quarters of its body length wide.
Where Does the Orangeback Flying Squid Live?
The orangeback flying squid lives in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Its range stretches from about 35° North to 36° South. However, it mostly breeds closer to the equator, within about 22° North or South.
This squid is a common species that lives in the upper layers of the ocean. This area is called the epipelagic zone. It can be found from the surface down to about 200 meters (656 feet) deep.
Amazing Abilities and Life Cycle
Squid can move very quickly through the water. They do this by using jet propulsion. They squirt a strong jet of water out of a flexible tube called a siphon. This siphon is located on their underside, just behind their head.
Some types of squid can even launch themselves out of the water. They can travel rapidly through the air for several meters. This "flying" behavior is not well understood because it happens so rarely. However, it has been photographed a few times. Scientists think the orangeback flying squid might be one of the species that can do this.
When flying, the squid seems to be actively moving, not just gliding. Its fin spreads wide, and its arms are held in a way that might help it lift. Studies have shown that these squid can travel five times faster in the air than in water. Scientists believe they might do this during long journeys to save energy.
Reproduction and Growth
Female orangeback flying squid mature at two different sizes. Some are ready to reproduce when their mantle is about 23 to 27 centimeters (9 to 11 inches) long. Others mature when they are larger, around 38 to 45 centimeters (15 to 18 inches) long.
When mature, females lay eggs over a period of time. They can have up to a million ripe eggs in their ovaries at once. These eggs are very small, about 0.8 millimeters (0.03 inches) across. Females also have many immature eggs ready to develop. This means they produce many small eggs, lay them over a long time, and keep eating and growing while they are breeding.
This squid species grows very fast. Young squid can reach about 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length in just 100 days. Female squid usually live for less than a year. Males live for one or two months less than females.
