MadSci Network: Zoology
Query:

Re: how do squids reproduce/thier life cycle? i am just asking!!!

Date: Fri Nov 23 00:09:00 2001
Posted By: Alastair Lyon, Science Information Officer
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 1005782524.Zo
Message:

One of the "weirdest" things you will ever touch is a pack of squid egg 
mass. They're jelly like white cases (the whole thing looks like an 
anemonie). 

Squid spawn in huge schools - the boys attract females by displaying 
changing chromatophores (their colour spots) and then fertilizes her with 
a special arm. She can receive the sperm from the male with a special pad 
under her sharp beak.

Egg cases are laid on seaweed, other egg cases or whatever else is nearby. 
Squid adults generally die after spawning - the young hatch as miniature 
adults. Female squid can lay up to 70,000 eggs!

By contrast, octopus generally guard their eggs, and don't die immediately 
after spawning. But Squid "live hard and die young", octopus have a much 
quieter, and longer life.




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