Invertebrates
European Squid
Loligo vulgaris · also called common squid
At night under a harbour light, a European squid hangs in the water, its skin rippling through shades of pink and brown as it watches for small fish.
Overview
The European squid, Loligo vulgaris, is a Least Concern cephalopod of coastal and shelf waters of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Its colour-changing skin, jet propulsion, and short life make it one of the most familiar squid of European waters.
A hunter that lives fast
The European squid grows rapidly on a diet of fish and crustaceans, spawns, and dies within a few years, so each year’s numbers depend on how well the previous generation bred.
Status
Least Concern, though numbers vary from year to year.
European Squid: common questions
How does a squid change colour?
It has thousands of pigment cells in its skin, called chromatophores, which it can expand and contract to change colour and pattern in an instant.
How does a squid swim?
It draws water into its body and squirts it out through a funnel, giving it fast, darting bursts, and steers with its fins.
How long does a European squid live?
It lives for only a few years, growing fast and dying soon after spawning.
Where is the European squid found?
It lives in coastal and shelf waters of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, from the North Sea to West Africa.