There's a flying squid? Yes some squid really can fly - Here's how and why
www.discoverwildlife.com
Can squid really fly? Yes, says David Brian Butvill, there are a few squid species that can get airborne... Here's how and why

I knew there’s a flying squid that likes to post memes though

If a squid swimming near the surface is spooked by a predator or a boat, it streamlines into a torpedo shape and fires itself out of the water. At the same time, it splays its eight tentacles into a flat, fan-like pattern in front of its face – some breeds even exude mucus to fill in the spaces, creating a unified, kite-like surface. It also flares a pair of fins near its rear end and – voilà – the squid becomes a living, breathing jet.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldEnglish
    22·
    9 days ago

    I did know! One day many years ago (we’re talking 1990s here), I was talking to people on IRC and I said, “you know what would be awesome? If squid could fly.”

    And then I looked just for the hell of it and it turns out they can. I’ve been FlyingSquid ever since.

    I still think that’s one of the coolest things in nature.

    • happysplinter@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      7 days ago

      This is an amazing origin story! Loved that you drop IRC. Paints a good picture of how long you’ve had the handle.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        7 days ago

        I’m old and I’ve been on the internet since the pre-web days. First time I used the internet was when a friend showed me how to use a MUD in the local university computer labs, but I was still a high school freshman, so that would have been 1991-1992, somewhere in there. I remember thinking that this new web thing I saw would never be as good as Gopher. Oops.