Southern Calamari
Known to the locals as just “squid,” the southern calamari is a species of reef squid that can be easily identified by their long tubular, cone shaped mantle, tentacles and large eyes. Their colour patterns can vary from orange-brown to almost transparent, and they are native to the oceans off the coastlines of Australia and New Zealand, commonly found all along the Great Southern Reef.
Southern calamari are nocturnal and are typically found in inshore waters at shallow depths from 1-10 metres along sandy areas, seagrass beds and reefs. These squid live for about one year and begin breeding at around eight months of age. Females mate with many males and spawn in relatively shallow water mainly during the summer months. They produce multiple batches of eggs that attach to seagrass, macro-algae, hard reef and even sandy substrates.
A quick snack
The squid’s typical diet consists of small fish and crustaceans. Known to be voracious feeders, they will often approach divers at night to feed on prey that is attracted to the lights. By filling their muscular mantle cavity with water and then quickly expelling the water out of the siphon, these squid can travel rapidly by jet propulsion. This unique form of locomotion is a powerful skill for the squid at catching quick fish and shrimp. The force of the water jet coming out of the siphon is opposed in equal magnitude by the force of the cephalopod’s body as it moves in the opposite direction. When threatened, they will change colours and expel a blob of purple ink that acts as a decoy so they can quickly jet away.
A fast growing, short lived species, squid are an important component of both commercial and recreational fishing. They are easy to catch at night along jetties, wharfs and ocean marinas and are considered a sustainable resource when harvested responsibly.
Fast Facts:
Species: Sepioteuthis australis
Family: Loliginidae (pencil squids)
Order: Teuthida (squid)
Feeding: Small fish and crustaceans
Habitat: Inshore, shallow waters along sandy areas, seaweed beds and reefs
Distribution: Endemic to coasts off of Australia and New Zealand
Special Power: Jet speed and colour change
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