Nature Shock: Killer Squid September 1, 2010 by lukesheppard

Millions of giant squid have now started attacking humans as well as devouring massive amounts of fish. These giant squid are being named as deadly creatures after two fishermen were recently taken from their boats and chewed so badly by the creatures that their families couldn’t even identify the bodies.

Last night, their story was told on the Channel Five documentary, Nature Shock – Killer Squid. The Humboldt squid which was named after a German explorer from the 18th century, have been spreading their tentacles to deplete fishing stocks by moving to the Pacific from their traditional tropical hunting grounds off Mexico since 2002. They hunt in 100-strong packs and can out-think and out-swim a fish. Scientists have been led to believe that they co-ordinate their attacks by using pigment cells to make communication. Just one female Humboldt is said to be able to lay 30 million eggs, each one of which being able to become a giant killer squid. The creatures can measure up to 8ft, weigh 100lb and carry an armoury of more than 40,000 teeth along two tentacles. The squid have another eight legs for swimming and grasping and can fetch speeds of over 15mph.

Scott Cassell, former US special forces diver put his life under threat to study the great squid. “Within five minutes my right shoulder was pulled out of its socket. I had 30 large marks on my throat and head and one squid hit me so hard that I saw stars. They then grabbed hold of me and pulled me down so fast I couldn’t equalise and I ruptured my eardrum” he said. Cassell added: “They are the most opportunistic predators on the planet. They will eat everything in their path. One Humboldt over the course of two years can eat 27,000lb of fish. What impact is this going to have on the environment?” Experts think that they may be taking advantage of warmer water due to climate change. They hold great threat to fisheries and marine ecosystems.