Opalescent or Table Squid!

Apologies! Not a great photo. The ocean is not very clear at the present time. Since I don’t have an underwater camera this photo is the best I can do. These squid appear nearly every year to spawn in the shallow water by the Whaletown dock. They can like the octopus change colour rapidly. Surprisingly enough they can travel at a good speed as well. Supposedly they make great calamari!

comments (8)

Calbost Niel

Lion

They appear to be facing the current. Thanks for sharing Posted 4 years ago
1. gary fast
  
  Lion
  
  Have to say it does appear that way but they are quick to move in any direction. They remind me of a murmuring of starlings. Posted 4 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

WOW!! Great spotting! When I saw the thumbnail, I thought this was a photo of red algae, lol. Posted 4 years ago
1. gary fast
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you. This is the first year I’ve been able to get a “satisfactory” photo of them. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Nice! This is a "good" photo, in my opinion though. Next year, you will surely get a great one :). Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. gary fast
      
      Lion
      
      I can only hope! Posted 4 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

I think the photo is very decent, it shows the species quite well. And it's an awesome species intro too, well done! Posted 4 years ago
1. gary fast
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you! It was good to see them again. Posted 4 years ago

The Opalescent inshore squid

''Doryteuthis opalescens'', the opalescent inshore squid is a small squid (up to 190 mm) in the family Loliginidae. It is a myopsid squid, which is the near shore group and that means that they have corneas over their eyes. The species lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Mexico's Baja California peninsula to Alaska, United States, and as an inshore squid it can be found with a range of 200 miles off the coast.

Info 1 0

Similar species: Myopsida

Species identified by gary fast