Who would know that squid are the caped crusaders of the marine world?

11 March 2026, The Tablet

Who would know that squid are the caped crusaders of the marine world?

Squid are captivated by green light. Knowing this, canny fishermen set off to hunt for them at night, shine a green light into the ocean, dip a line into the water and pull them out. When you next order a plate of deep fried battered calamari rings, remember that dismemberment has removed all the amazing characteristics of this distinguished cephalopod. Squid are translucent, their mantles able to change colour for camouflage. In the case of the firefly squid they produce light for counter-illumination, helping them to reflect their surroundings and effectively “disappear”, so confusing their predators. This talent has been used in military technology to disguise ships and aircraft.

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