cabrillo marine aquarium vs aquarium of the pacific

A voracious appetite fuels this growth rate. Having one of the highest growth rates of any squid species, Humboldt squid can reach their maximum size within a year of hatching out of their eggs. sardines, hake and lanternfish) and crustaceans (eg. Their diet consists of other cephalopods, fish (eg.

They are diel vertical migrators ascending from as deep as 2,300 ft to feed in surface waters at night. They travel in shoals of 1,200 or more individuals and are capable of reaching speeds up to 15 mph. Recent research from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has shown they are expanding their range north as far as Alaska and have been observed in the Monterey Canyon since 2002. Humboldt squid are visitors to Southern California and are often seen here during El Nino events that bring warmer than average water temperatures to our coast. Large mysterious cephalopods such as the Humboldt squid probably helped inspire Jules Verne to write about the giant squid that attacked Captain Nemo’s submarine in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and these behemoths were undoubtedly a source of trepidation for sailors who gazed upon the deep dark vastness of the ocean.Īlso known as jumbo flying squid, Humboldt squid can be found in the eastern equatorial Pacific and are named after the Humboldt current that occurs off the coast of Peru.

Off our coast the Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) can reach an overall length of 6 ½ feet and weigh up to 100 lbs, a giant compared to the common and tasty market squid (Loligo opalescens) that people may eat as an appetizer at their favorite restaurant.

Cabrillo marine aquarium vs aquarium of the pacific