Glowing Squids, African Edition

Glowing Squids, African Edition

A new paper in the African Journal of Marine Science turned me on to the genus Lycoteuthis, an open-ocean squid just bristling with light organs. According to Vecchione and Young: Presumably they…
Ask, And Ye Shall Receive*

Ask, And Ye Shall Receive*

Yesterday I complained that none of the articles about the New Zealand squid fishery had any quotes from fishing reps. I had only to wait 24 hours for my complaint to be answered! In a …
Sea Lions Compete With Humans For Squid; Lose

Sea Lions Compete With Humans For Squid; Lose

Today's squid news comprises four journalistic angles on the same story. See if you can figure out what it is: Squid fishing leads to decline in sea lion numbers Govt 'gambling with the survival' of…
Squid Who Make Their Own Light

Squid Who Make Their Own Light

Alternative alliterative title: Long-tailed Light-up Loliginids! I've mentioned the two flavors of squid before: the open-ocean oegopsids and the nearshore myopsids. Most myopsids are in the family…
Why Are Squid Attracted To Light, Anyway?

Why Are Squid Attracted To Light, Anyway?

Extra-glowy squid lures are the new hotness, according to the UK's Western Morning News: Virtually all squid jigs [fishing lures] have luminescent sections, but now available in the South West are…
The Smallest Jumbo Squid

The Smallest Jumbo Squid

"How big is the squid?" the fifth-graders demanded when I showed up in their classroom with a cooler on Monday. "Humboldt squid can get up to five feet long--about as big as me," I told them. "But…
Squidly Masters Of The Sea

Squidly Masters Of The Sea

I really enjoy getting squid stories from around the world in my daily google news alert. Keeps me from getting too obsessed with the Humboldt and market squid of California. Here's the latest: …
I Really Don't Understand

I Really Don't Understand

What is the point of a fishery quota if, in the years when you actually reach it, you petition the government to increase it--because there are just so many darn fish, and it would be a shame not to…
In Which Children Ask Questions About Squid

In Which Children Ask Questions About Squid

Just got back from giving a presentation on Humboldt squid in Modesto. The audience had wonderful energy and the little kids had the BEST questions. Winners: Third place: "What is the smallest squid…
Glycerol Mystery - Why Flies Love Beer

Glycerol Mystery - Why Flies Love Beer

Why do flies like beer?  It's sweeter than you think.  Entomologists say the flies sense glycerol, the sweet-tasting compound that yeasts make during fermentation. The researchers examined…