PARIS: Scientists claim they are one step closer to unravelling one of the greatest mysteries of the deep world, thanks to footage captured by “Crittercams” strapped to the bodies of giant squid.
Marine biologists have long known the Humboldt squid, which can grow as big as a man, speak to each other in flashes of colour, their whole bodies changing from red to white and back again.
Now they claim to be one step closer to figuring out just what it is they are saying, as video analysts work to decipher their creepy chatter of flickers, lunges and flashes.
They mightn’t have cracked the code yet but even getting this far was a stretch, as a new research paper explains.
The aggressive predators, sporting suckers lined with sharp teeth, show no fear of human divers and have been known to rip off diving masks and to attack lighting and camera equipment.
If that wasn’t enough, they also have a two-inch-long beak used to sever the spines of fish, and have no qualms about ripping apart and eating injured comrades.
So scientists mounted cameras on three of the animals instead.
Scroll down to watch squid poetry in motion as well as a few quirks held by their less intimidating cephalopod cousins.
