Cephalopod
European flying squid
Todarodes sagittatus
(GSA7) Gulf of Lion, (GSA8) Corsica
Zones de pêche
Wild
Origine
12 cm
Taille minimale
Description
This is a large squid with a cylindrical, muscular body, ranging in color from dark purple to reddish brown. Its terminal fins are large, broad, and arrow-shaped, accounting for about 45% of the mantle length. The arms are robust and bear two rows of suckers. The tentacle clubs (the tips of the tentacles) are very long and occupy almost the entire length of the tentacle. The mantle length can reach 75 cm in females (often larger than males), with a total length exceeding one meter. A voracious and swift predator, it feeds on fish (herring, cod, sand eels), crustaceans, and other cephalopods.
Habitat
An oceanic and neritic species (living in the open ocean as well as near the coast). It is a pelagic animal that undertakes significant nycthemeral vertical migrations (rising to the surface at night and descending during the day). It is found from the surface down to depths exceeding 1,000 meters, although it is most common between 70 and 800 meters. It inhabits the continental shelf, slopes, and seamounts.
Distribution
Its range covers mainly the eastern Atlantic and its adjacent seas. From the Arctic (Iceland, Norway, Spitsbergen) southward to the Gulf of Guinea. It is very common throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Found as far south as the waters off South Africa.