Decoding the secret language of Humboldt squid

Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) are formidable predators, whose group foraging often resembles a feeding frenzy. Despite this free-for-all appearance, foraging Humboldt squid generally avoid direct contact or physical competition for prey. New research by MBARI suggests that, as they hunt, these squid communicate with each other using changing patterns of light and dark pigment on their skin. The changes are visible even in the darkest depths of the ocean because the squids’ entire bodies glow in the dark, so the pigment patterns are backlit like words on the screen of a handheld electronic device.

The squid exhibit changing color patterns most often when they are interacting with one another in groups. This suggests that their pigmentation changes may be an effective means of communication, analogous to humans using turn signals in traffic. Though the meaning of the signals remains unknown, this research suggests that Humboldt squids use changes in body patterns as a consistent and effective means of communication in the deep.

Rewatch the video to see how many color patterns you can spot in the squid surrounding the highlighted ones.

Video production team: Ben Burford, Kyra Schlining, Susan von Thun
Music: New Motivation (MotionArray)

Publication referenced:

[--Paws--]

It would be a whole lot simpler if all squids spoke the same language. Decoding one species is one thing yet to do the same thing for each different species will take a lifetime.
I wonder if each squid species have "accents" or even "slang" that varies depending on the Ocean, the region or even depth.

[ianmccourry]

I honestly can't wait till we decode some of these signals! Thank you for the video!

[GanzotheSecond]

He said “that’s why yo mama dead vine thud sound effect”

[AphidKirby]

It's funny how underwater, sound travels best, while in the air photons travel best, yet humans made language based on sounds and cephalopods based on visuals

[bok..]

"So long, and thanks for all the fish."

[콜라캔스]

I always thought that Humboldt squids could communicate through colors, but this one is amazing. Thank you for the video!

[AngryKittens]

They're probably saying: "Ugh those humans again with their bright lights. Go away poopoo-head!"

[Nlcup]

i wonder if the researchers noticed that the squids fins seem to appear to act like hand gestures while they comunicate

[daskerw]

The one where only there cheeks turn red means they are shy 🤭

[elijahporter]

0:43
Is it just me, or does the squid pale the half of its body that its prey happens to be nearest to (e.g. fish to the left, pale left side, extend arms to left)?

Also, do contrasting colour patterns (e.g. dark eyes & pale eyes, dark fins & pale fins) have meanings relative to their inverse pattern?

[PrincessGrouchy]

Nice video! I didn't know there was behaviour like this!

[johnnybrinson]

Any mermaids we saw one in st marks Florida if you look up mermaid in Jamaica it’s the exact thing me and my wife saw I love what you guys are doing and I am currently looking for research equipment to capture what we saw

[patriciaanndemello]

Wouldn't it be cool if humans could communicate like this.

[ricecooker]

I like to imagine they aren’t communicating they just all came up with a couple flashes they can do just so they can screw with us

[sliceofbread]

i bet they are all just laughing and making fun of how we humans dont understand any of it..

[jeffreybower]

i thought the arcticle was talking about they were trying to speak like us humans, 🤣🤣🤣

[Fantastic_van]

They can actually change colors he starts to be flashing red while seeing a human

[marlonmcgregor]

The real question is what does it taste like

[KenKaneki]

All is know it’s excited about eating therefore, I couldn’t follow the color coding 😆