In their trip report for June 28 - July 14, Scott and Sharon reported seeing a large number of squid at one point organized in a very specific "pyramid" formation.

Last month my wife and I saw 12 reef squid at Karpata, stacked in a very clear echelon-right formation. On a different day we saw a small patrol of 4 squid flying along in the famous "missing man" configuration.

Scott and Sharon's pyramid sounds like a textbook squadron delta formation.

Perhaps this is evidence of an organized squid militia patrolling the waters of Bonaire.

Three questions:
1. Has anyone else noticed such formations of reef squid?

2. Does/should Bonaire's paramilitary squid squadron have a name?

3. All kidding aside, is there a scientific explanation? I hear they are quite tasty when served in brine, so perhaps they deliberately arrange themselves in military-style formations as a form of group defense...?


-LS

Leif - It's funny you should mention that. In my trip report (under Snorkeling Bonaire) last month, I wrote:

"... they swim in a line with others in their school, rather like a squadron of attack planes."

We saw formations of 20-30 of them at the Plaza; one day, we saw 2 formations at the same time, easily numbering more than 40 squid. It was pretty impressive. Sorry I couldn't recognize the type of formation they were in, though. :-)

Ken

We saw 15-20 squid in "V" formation at Calabas Reef by the Divi a few times...near the Northern Dive Hut right by the docks/pier. Amazing to float and watch them "fly" and hover. Beautiful sight. There seem to be a lot of squid lately. CArole

A picture of some baby squid we found in formation at Bari Reef in April.

Thanks for the pic!
Looks like a triple echelon left formation (the "leader" being at the bottom edge of the photo)... Perfect for large squadrons of "dive bombers" like those used in the Pacific theatre in WWII.

Is this the Bonaire Squid Force on high alert?

-LS

Correction ... Echelon RIGHT, although if they were to be swimming backwards...

Would love to know the answer to this also...last year there was a group on the island who were doing some filming. They did a few night slide shows at Captain Dons and Sandollar....I have their card somewhere...They were Very knowledgeable on Cephelapods....will keep looking through my stuff...anyone know who they are off hand...

I've posted this on Scott's Trip Report, but I'm guessing (as I'm no squid expert), that the squid formations could be a mating strategy or a combination of mating and protecting themselves from predators. Meryl, perhaps you'll find something more accurate, but it sure is interesting..

So actually I think it's one stealth squid using ECM to simulate multiple decoy targets...

There were some marine biologists on the island doing some research on the squid. I believe they were staying at Cap't Don's or Buddy's. The film crew from the Discovery Network were on island at the same time. I was in the seat next to one of the biologists on the way down and back, and he told me about the film crew and that they had been filmed diving with the squid. I don't know if that footage ended up on the cutting room floor on not. I remember him very well because he looked a lot like my ex-husband.

Hi
It appears to me that squid ALWAYS swim in some information even if some are swimming backwards and or there are only 2 or 3 of them. They certainly are interesting creatures in any number of ways. I don't know about the mating thing. We need some expert advise. Mickey

Squid Row.

Scott,
Squid schools are usually by sex. The females, which grow larger than males, can be quite cannibalistic and predatory on the younger males. Normally schooling is for defense, offense, and intragroup communications. Squid hunt in schools in all oceans, and are hunted.

If you ever have a chance to watch reef squid feed and hunt, it is a treat. In the open they hunt fish with incredible speed. Reef squid also hunt in the reef itself. They work in teams over a section of reef when they find prey. They actually pull out prey, like fish or inverts out of the reef with their tentacles and engulf them with in a frenzy. I saw this happen at Andreas I last trip. It was bizarre.

The tentacles have battle hooks and suckers. One of the eight arms is also a sex organ in males.
Open water squid hunt in large packs or schools and have a means of instant communication, apparently a characteristic in the other 350+ squid species too.

Reef squid formations are quite interesting and sometimes send out "scouts" in pairs. So if you see a pair of squid, stay still and look around, lots of eyes may be watching. Check out their iridescent colors and chameleon-like qualities.

As a kid, I used to package fresh squid for bait in my dad's tackle shop. I always thought they were looking back at me. I would box them and line them in freezer in...squid rows. 35 cents a pack. Obviously, that was pre-sushi days.

Bud

Hi Bud, that's some interesting stuff.. Nice to know I wasn't too far off the mark

Are you a Biologist?

Thanks Bud...I knew you'd have some good insights.

Are you on Bonaire in Nov/Dec?

Scott

Squid Row Pro? :-)

Gosh, I'm so excited.. just been doing some squid research and found this really interesting WWW..

http://www.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/Mather.html

Sarah,
Thanks for the link...great article. I actually have some pretty decent video from Andrea I of a pair of squid mating. It was FAST. I'll show it to you in Dec.

Scott

Scott, I'll look forward to it!..

Too funny Nathalie.

Nathalie.

There is actually a seafood restaurant in Manhattan named Squid Row. Good food and reasonable prices and not far from skid row either.

bud

Sarah great link...I think that was the name of the gentleman that was talking on Bonaire James Wood...? I have his card somewhere have to research this in the AM...don't ya love stumbling on Bonaire articles

Meryl, yes indeedy!.

Speaking of restuarants... There is one in the Keys on Islamorada (sp?) name Squid Row (like in Manhattan). The food is very reasonalby priced and some of the best seafood I have had, certainly the best on the Keys.

Just an FYI

John

Each time I've observed Bonaire's squid while snorkeling, whether there are 4 or 24, they seem precisely spaced & lined up according to length. The smallest ones I've seen hang out at the reef cam mooring line. Also, we see them frequently in June/July, but don't recall seeing them during the years when we were on Bonaire in March/April. Don't know whether I'm getting more observant or if their occurrence varies by time of year. Anyone?

Nathalie,
We've only been there in January, February, or March; and have seen squid around Bari Reef each of the five years.
Chet