‘Like an alien invasion’: the neon flying squid that can fly in formation above the ocean

Unseen Above the Waves: Rare Footage Captures Squid Formation in Flight

Wanderstayfinder.com – Marine biologists have long suspected that certain cephalopods possess the remarkable ability to travel through air, yet concrete evidence remained elusive for decades. A groundbreaking observation made aboard a Japanese research vessel transformed speculation into documented fact, revealing a spectacle that resembled nothing so much as an extraterrestrial landing. The moment occurred when approximately one hundred squid emerged simultaneously from a specific region of the Pacific Ocean. Located roughly 370 miles east of Tokyo, the water became a launching pad for these creatures. Rather than simply leaping and falling back into the sea, the group maintained an aerial trajectory, gliding alongside the vessel for nearly thirty meters before descending. Researchers aboard the ship were unprepared for such a display. They managed to secure the first-ever photographs of this phenomenon, capturing images that showed the animals suspended in mid-air with their limbs extended outward. The visual impression was striking, evoking comparisons to the initial phases of a science fiction invasion scenario.

Identifying the Aerial Travelers

Subsequent analysis identified the performers as neon flying squid, scientifically classified as Ommastrephes bartramii. This species belongs to a specialized family comprising twenty distinct members known for their aerial capabilities. While scientists had previously observed individual squid jumping clear of the water’s surface, the collective gliding behavior was entirely new to documentation. The propulsion mechanism behind this feat involves a specialized anatomical structure called the hyponome. This muscular, funnel-shaped organ operates similarly to a jet engine, expelling water with considerable force to drive the squid’s body forward. This system enables movement both underwater and through the air, allowing the creatures to maintain momentum during their brief flights. Photographic evidence reveals the squid in a distinctive posture during flight. With ten limbs in total, these animals spread their arms wide, creating an aerodynamic profile that facilitates smoother gliding. Adults typically measure approximately the length of a standard rolling pin, making them substantial creatures capable of generating enough thrust for aerial travel.

Understanding the Behavior

The precise motivation behind synchronized aerial movement remains a subject of scientific inquiry. One prevailing theory suggests predator avoidance. Sharks and other large marine hunters may have been pursuing the group, prompting the squid to launch themselves into the air as an escape strategy. This behavior would explain why they traveled in such coordinated formation rather than scattering individually. These cephalopods inhabit waters across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, undertaking extensive migrations throughout their lifespans. Their distribution patterns reflect their highly mobile nature, as they follow food sources and environmental conditions across vast oceanic distances. A distinctive physical feature aids in their survival: a golden or silver-colored stripe running along the center of their ventral surface. Marine scientists believe this coloration serves as camouflage, helping the squid blend with light filtering through water from above when viewed from below.

Expert Perspectives on Cephalopod Intelligence

William Gilly, a biologist at Stanford University who has dedicated decades to studying these creatures, provided valuable insights into the observation. He noted that witnessing such behavior requires favorable circumstances.

“You have to be lucky,” Gilly explained. “I’ve seen a small humboldt squid leap out of the water to get away from a mahi mahi fish, and the fish leaped out of the water too and caught the squid mid-air. But I’ve never seen them glide in a group.”

Gilly’s research has also documented extraordinary swimming speeds among flying squid. He tagged a humboldt squid—the largest member of its family—and recorded it traveling at ten meters per second, equivalent to thirty-six kilometers per hour, while evading sea lions. Beyond speed and aerial capability, squid demonstrate sophisticated cognitive functions. They possess the ability to alter their skin coloration rapidly, navigate water with greater agility than many fish, and exhibit social behaviors that distinguish them from their solitary relatives.

“One squid alone is an unhappy creature, it’s jittery and nervous,” Gilly observed. “An octopus is a loner. It will kill another octopus if you put them in a tank together. Squid are far more social.”

While octopods often dominate public fascination, squid maintain their own reputation for intelligence and adaptability. Their social nature, combined with their physical capabilities, makes them among the most remarkable inhabitants of Earth’s oceans.

Broader Implications

The rarity of such observations underscores how much remains unknown about marine ecosystems. Even dedicated researchers encounter these phenomena infrequently, highlighting the challenges of studying creatures that spend most of their time beneath the waves. When squid do emerge, whether to feed, escape predators, or simply travel, they remind us that the ocean continues to produce moments of wonder. For those interested in celebrating invertebrate diversity, public voting remains open through mid-August, with results to be revealed shortly thereafter.