I just got back from a quick trip to the Izu Peninsula in Japan. My primary objective was to photograph aggregations of mating bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana).
Despite having horrific weather for most of the days, coming down with a high fever mid-dive and becoming half-delirious, plus dealing with teething problems involving a new camera and housing…I managed to some nice shots.
It’ll take me a few days, but I’ll write more about the amazing and somewhat eerie experience of being surrounded by dozens of large squid (a metre+ in length for the biggest ones) preoccupied with mating and laying eggs.
Here’s a preview:
Incidentally, can anyone clue me in on what the correct term for a “bunch of squid” is? Like…school of fish, herd of elephants, pride of lions, gaggle of geese, etc.
According to The Cephalopod Page, it is “a school of squid”:
http://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/TCP/faq/TCPfaq2b.cfm?ID=6
Patrik
Thanks Patrik!
I wld like to tink of them as a basket of squid. (tink calamari!) ^_^ just kidding! it’s almost lunch time here!
Hey T,
Nice shot! I believe the correct collective noun is shoal…but I kinda like the idea of a jet or squirt of squid!
AL
Tony,
Looking quickly through some of the literature on cephalopods, the collective terms “shoal” and “school” mentioned above appear to be the most widely utilized and accepted.
I am always struck by how expressive these critters can be when encountered by divers/photographers.