billvon 3,110 #1 December 14, 2006 This is one of those almost-too-strange-to-be-real things: Squid can fly. They do this by storing up water, blasting it out their siphon to break them free of the water, then firing the jet backwards and down while extending their mantle fins and legs for extra surface area. They can climb as high as 6 feet and cover ~100 feet at speeds of 20mph or so. One was seen to break free, fire its jet, and accelerate from 10 to 20mph above the water. They apparently do this to avoid predators; people see it happen mainly when a boat spooks them and they take off. In some cases it results in them landing _in_ the boat, so clearly they don't have the whole boat phenomenon figured out yet. http://www.bio.miami.edu/robinson/research/jmollstud04.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McBeth 0 #2 December 14, 2006 Ewwww that would seriously freak me out. I'm freaking out just thinking about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #3 December 14, 2006 Quotefreaking SQUIDS with rockets on their freaking BUTTS I thought this was going to be a Navy SEALS story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,110 #4 December 14, 2006 >Ewwww that would seriously freak me out. Why? They're not that gross. At least, no more so than octopi or cuttlefish. (Cuttlefish are cool.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #5 December 14, 2006 Did the "Pee in her butt" thread inspire this thread? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 December 14, 2006 Squids are perhaps one of the freekiest, weirdest creatures on the planet. Nothing George Lucas or any science fiction writer has come up with so far even comes close. Glow in the dark creepies that flash color, have tentacles that continue to work off even severed from their bodies, that big creepy eye, that wicked beak that doesn't digest in the belly of a whale. I'm tellin' ya, everything about them is weird and it's a good thing they can't support themselves out of water. Yeach!quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McBeth 0 #7 December 14, 2006 Quote>Ewwww that would seriously freak me out. Why? They're not that gross. At least, no more so than octopi or cuttlefish. (Cuttlefish are cool.)Those both gross me out too I have issues with water creatures... ICK!!! Edited to add: And quade just made them sound even worse Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawndiver 0 #8 December 15, 2006 I have dove in the Channel Islands with thousands of them surrounding the boat being attracted by the lights we put in the water for night dives. Absolutely amazing animals! I was also called out to the Bodega Marine Lab to shoot video of a captured Humbolt Squid several years ago. Up until that point they had not been seen that far north before. This things body was three feet long with hooks on its tentacles, and they were not "sure" how it would react when I went in the tank. All went well though, and I actually got credit for my video on CNN that night!_________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,110 #9 December 15, 2006 >Squids are perhaps one of the freekiest, weirdest creatures on the planet. Not only that, but they're pretty smart. You can train a cephalopod to pick up a red ball instead of a white one to get a reward. Nothing special there. But if another cephalopod is watching, he will immediately go for the red ball when it's his turn. Which means they can learn abstractly, through interpretation and imitation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #10 December 15, 2006 QuoteWhich means they can learn abstractly, through interpretation and imitation. Which ALSO means they're also smarter than some of us! Holy poo!quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,110 #11 December 15, 2006 >Those both gross me out . . . . Hmm. I read a journal entry about a couple on a large sailboat going across the pacific. At one point they went through a school of flying squid and the things took to the air. There were squids in the sails, on the deck, on the windows - they said after a while they all dried to a smelly sort of squid jerky. I'm guessing that would not be up your alley. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #12 December 15, 2006 Quote>Squids are perhaps one of the freekiest, weirdest creatures on the planet. Not only that, but they're pretty smart. You can train a cephalopod to pick up a red ball instead of a white one to get a reward. Nothing special there. But if another cephalopod is watching, he will immediately go for the red ball when it's his turn. Which means they can learn abstractly, through interpretation and imitation. In addition to their intelligence and flying abilities, they are rather tasty deep fried with a nice marinara sauce.L.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McBeth 0 #13 December 15, 2006 Quote>Those both gross me out . . . . Hmm. I read a journal entry about a couple on a large sailboat going across the pacific. At one point they went through a school of flying squid and the things took to the air. There were squids in the sails, on the deck, on the windows - they said after a while they all dried to a smelly sort of squid jerky. I'm guessing that would not be up your alley.Thanks for making me nauseous Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #14 December 15, 2006 QuoteQuote>Those both gross me out . . . . Hmm. I read a journal entry about a couple on a large sailboat going across the pacific. At one point they went through a school of flying squid and the things took to the air. There were squids in the sails, on the deck, on the windows - they said after a while they all dried to a smelly sort of squid jerky. I'm guessing that would not be up your alley.Thanks for making me nauseous Actually that's available in many Asian markets. I can send you some if you like.L.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #15 December 15, 2006 QuoteIn addition to their intelligence and flying abilities, they are rather tasty deep fried with a nice marinara sauce. Ooops, excuse me. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,584 #16 December 15, 2006 QuoteI thought this was going to be a Navy SEALS storyAnd I thought it was going to be about overagressive clueless motorcycle riders... Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zing 2 #17 December 15, 2006 I recall reading an account of an encounter with a giant squid by a man who sailed around the world several times, solo in sailboats. He was fishing and had several long lines deployed. While reeling in one of the lines, he noticed a disturbance in the water next to the boat and saw a pale shape in the water. He turned on a spotlight and found himself looking into a blue eye ... "the size of a dinner plate." For about ten minutes, he watched a creature longer than his sailboat and was able to clearly identify the mantle, tentacles and siphon of an arcetuthus (sp?), commonly known as a giant squid. He wrote that he had the distinct impression that the creature was checking out the boat and was completely aware of the movements the man made forward and aft as he looked the squid over. After a few minutes, the squid descended out of sight. There was also a recent program about a Japanese researcher who dropped cameras with baited hooks attached. He recorded some of the first pictures of a giant squid alive in its native element some 1500 to 2000 feet deep. He was the one that pulled up a giant squid's main tentacle, about 25' long, that continued to writhe about on the deck and grip and taste things with its suckers. Small squids, cuttlefish and, particularly, octopi are fun to play with on night scuba dives, but a squid or octopus of any appreciable size would be a formidable foe underwater for a human. I had a small octopus, about two feet long, remove my mask and regulator. They are incredibly strong for their size, and they love crabmeat.Zing Lurks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skysurfer_Rob 0 #18 December 15, 2006 I had thought the same."Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil...For I am at 80,000 Feet and Climbing." SR-71 hangar entrance sign at Kadena AFB, Japan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Armour666 0 #19 December 15, 2006 QuoteQuotefreaking SQUIDS with rockets on their freaking BUTTS I thought this was going to be a Navy SEALS story. LoL that was my thoughs. I was think what the hell stupid thing did thos navy guys do now SO this one time at band camp..... "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #20 December 15, 2006 QuoteI have dove in the Channel Islands You lucky devil. I wondered what happened to her! http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?username=dove; tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #21 December 15, 2006 Quote>Squids are perhaps one of the freekiest, weirdest creatures on the planet. Not only that, but they're pretty smart. You can train a cephalopod to pick up a red ball instead of a white one to get a reward. Nothing special there. But if another cephalopod is watching, he will immediately go for the red ball when it's his turn. Which means they can learn abstractly, through interpretation and imitation. There are some people who read the incidents forum who havn't figured that out yet.. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bazelos 0 #22 December 15, 2006 I haven't seen them fly, no, but they are quite tastyAh, I miss home food.He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #23 December 15, 2006 Mmmm... Calimari...Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douva 0 #24 December 15, 2006 From reading Wikipedia, I've learned that there is also a colossal squid, which is larger than the giant squid. There are some very cool pictures on THIS page. Apparently it's the colossal squid which has hooks in its suction cups, not the giant squid. Peter Benchley got it wrong in his book Beast. Tell me those hook covered tentacles won't give you nightmares. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #25 December 15, 2006 You know - Flying Calimari sounds REALLY good right now.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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