Dosidicus

Dosidicus is a genus of squids in the family Ommastrephidae. It is monotypic, represented by the species Dosidicus gigas, commonly called the Humboldt squid or jumbo squid.

Distribution and habitat: D. gigas is native to the eastern Pacific, from southern California to southern Chile, with greatest abundance along the Humboldt Current. It is a pelagic species occupying the water column from the surface to depths of at least 1,000 meters, often migrating diurnally.

Description and biology: It is a large squid, with mantle length up to about 1 meter and total length over 2 meters. The body ranges from pink to reddish, and can rapidly change color. It has eight arms and two longer tentacles with rings of suckers. Dense schools may form during feeding migrations.

Diet and reproduction: Humboldt squid are voracious predators, feeding on fish, crustaceans, and other cephalopods. They are active at night, using ambush tactics. Reproduction involves females laying large gelatinous egg masses in shallow waters; eggs hatch in several weeks depending on temperature, and maturity occurs around one year.

Human interactions and ecological role: Dosidicus gigas supports commercial fisheries in Peru, Chile, and Mexico, with variable catches. It is a key component of the eastern Pacific ecosystem, as both predator and prey, and population changes have been linked to oceanographic factors such as upwelling and prey availability. Management and stock assessments continue to adapt to fluctuations in abundance.