Cephalopod · squid

Purpleback flying squid

Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic Found in 2 oceans

Depth

From 200 to 1,100 m by day, near the surface at night

Size

Often 12 to 25 cm mantle length, up to 65 cm and 8.5 kg

Diet

Active hunter with very varied prey

Zone

Twilight zone · 200 – 1,000 m

Key facts

• Most of its forms have a luminous patch on the back.
• A giant form lives in the Arabian Sea. Its females are about twice as long as those of the common form.
• A giant female can carry 2 to 5 million eggs.
• Young ones can leap out of the water and “fly”. In the Bay of Bengal, it is the main prey of yellowfin tuna.

Verified sources

1. SeaLifeBase, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis
2. Snyder 1998, Journal of Molluscan Studies (NERC)
3. Aquatic Living Resources 2024, Yellowfin tuna diet, Bay of Bengal

In the game: Prey: +10 points

In the same zone

Ningaloo giant siphonophoreApolemia sp. Giant Arctic copepodCalanus hyperboreus Northern wolffishAnarhichas denticulatus Orange siphonophoreMarrus orthocanna Giant warty squidMoroteuthopsis longimana (formerly Kondakovia longimana) Ice anemoneEdwardsiella andrillae