4 replies to this topic

[HelmutCarl]

During a shallow dive in only 3m deep water I came across this flock of squids. Any idea about identification? Unfortunately the visibility was very poor as it can be seen on the image where the squids fled away. Actually there was a second flock even closer to the shore but the visibility there made it impossible to take good pictures.

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[Francoise]

Hello,

It is difficult to identify the squids.
Those seem to be Loligo Vulgaris, squid quite common in the Mediterranean sea.
Or maybe Loligo Alloteuthis.

[grech]

my guess is Loligo vulgaris too, often see them at night as they are attracted to the torches

in Malta we sometimes get huge breeding aggregations of them and they coat all available overhanging surfaces (such as wrecks ) with eggs

[HelmutCarl]

Hello,
I do not think that it is Loligo vulgaris because for this species the finns of mine are to long  and the body not cylindric enough and on the other hand for the Lessepsian migrant Sepioteuthis lessoniana the body matches but the fins are to short ... . For Loligo vulgaris  I know two spots in Cyprus where it can be found on occasion.

[HelmutCarl]

Hello,
today I got confirmation from the HELLENIC CENTRE FOR MARINE RESEARCH (Rhodes (Rhodos)) that my squids are in fact as far as it can be identified by photos to be Sepioteuthis lessoniana.