It’s A Humboldt Squid Rave!

Photo credit: National Geographic

Apparently, scientists have known for a while that Humboldt squid talk to one another by quickly changing the color of their bodies in flashes of red and white.

But what none of us know is what the squid are saying to each other.

Researchers at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station attached what they call “crittercams” to the backs of several Humboldt squid to try and solve the mystery.

Video credit: Huffington Post

The video captured the five to six foot long squid changing colors and making tentacle-to-tentacle contact, possibly showing mating attempts.

Well, here’s what the scientists are saying:

The frequency and phase relationships [synchronization] between squid during flashing can be changed and this suggests that there is some information being conveyed that makes minute control over these details important to the squid,”  – Hannah Rosen, doctoral student at Stanford University/leader of the research

The researches are excited that they have live footage of these interactions and are hopeful that it will reveal more about the mysterious communication.

For more information about the color changing squid, visit the Huffington Post.