Jumbo squids or Humboldt squids (Dosidicus gigas)are members of the flying squid family, Ommastrephidae, and are known to actually eject themselves out of the sea to avoid predators. Humboldt squid are carnivorous marine invertebrates that move in shoals of up to 1,200 individuals. Jumbo squid are large impressive squids that can reach up to 2m in length. They have a large, tough, thick-walled mantle and long arms with 100-200 powerful hooked suckers on each, and lightning-fast tentacles. These elusive and mysterious creatures are aggressive predators, which has earned them the nickname "red devils" or "diablos rojos" (from Mexican shrimpers who fish for jumbo squid during the shrimping off-season). This name comes from their red hue when hooked, which is used as camouflage from predators in deep waters where most animals cannot see the color red. Like other cephalopods, they are equipped with chromatophores and are able to change color and flash light to communicate. They also have the ability to squirt ink as a defense mechanism. Jumbo squid can swim at speeds up to 24 kph rivaling some of the fastest swimmers in the ocean.They can be found at depths between 200-700 meters in the waters of the eastern Pacific from Tierra del Fuego north to California. Although Humboldt squid have a reputation of being aggressive, there is some disagreement on this subject. Recent research suggests they are only aggressive while feeding; at other times, they are quite passive. Their behavior while feeding often extends to cannibalism and they have been seen to readily attack injured or vulnerable squid of their own shoal. This behavior may account for a large proportion of their rapid growth. Some scientists claim the only reports of aggression towards humans have occurred when reflective diving gear or flashing lights have been present as a provocation.
