On June 15 visitor Autumn Thoyre and her family saw multiple squid swimming in the shallow waters at Frazer Point. The squid that they saw were most likely longfin squid, one of two species found in Maine. Longfin squid can grow up to 1.6 feet (mantle length) but are usually less than 1 foot. The mantle is the large part of squid not including the tentacles.
When these squid were sighted, they were possibly hunting for food, using the shallow waters to their advantage. Squid are aggressive hunters and can consume fish larger than themselves. They even eat their own species! They are also a key prey species for a variety of marine mammals, diving birds, and finfish.
Longfin squid use special pigment cells in their skin, called chromatophores, to change their color and patterns to escape predators or disguise themselves while hunting prey.
Learn more about the amazing marine wildlife in Acadia by visiting https://www.nps.gov/acad/learn/nature/marine-wildlife.htm
Original source can be found here
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