Jumbo squid wash up in California

[T_i_B]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4193409.stm

Hundreds of dead large squid have been washing up on beaches in Orange County, California, puzzling scientists.

The creatures - which can reach 1.8m long (6 feet) and weigh up to 7.7kg (17lb) - normally inhabit deep waters and only come to the surface at night.

"These things are invading, and we don't know what's going on," an oceanography professor said.

Between 500 and 1,500 squid - thought to be Humboldt squid - are said to have strewn beaches in Orange County, including Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

[Spinzonner]

1. There goes the neighborhood

[Maraya1969]

3. OHHH ROFL !!!!

:toast:

[shawcomm]

2. One word...

Calamari!

[Historic NY]

5. thats what I though jumbo's

[SemperEadem]

14. too big and too tough for calimari

calimari is usually less than 8 inches long

Humboldts are like the wolves of the ocean--they hunt in packs.

[jeff30997]

4. They wanted to protest Chimpy's coronation.They were so mad that...

They forgot that they can't breath or walk.

[nookiemonster]

7. Now that's what I call ACTIVISM and SACRIFICE!

Too bad they're mollusks. Good on the plate, though. :P

[SemperEadem]

15. ROFLMAO!!!!!

Good one!!!!

[SemperEadem]

16. I kept thinking about that when I was going to sleep last night

and all I picture was a "Far Side" cartoon with your post as the caption. Laughing really does keep you from drifting off...

[Mikimouse]

6. Squidward committing suicide over SpongeBob's outing...n/t

[Spinzonner]

8. Next on "The O.C.", inspired by real events ...

[sakabatou]

9. At least it ins't 500 to 1500 Archetoothi washing ashore

Those things can get up to 80 ft. long.

[ronnykmarshall]

10. Squidzilla!!!

Run for your lives!

[kineneb]

11. Saw an article on these type of squid in Baja

Apparently the Gulf of California/Baja has been invaded by the large squid. Saw an article a while back, in a on line German paper; the large native fauna seems to have been fished out and the big squid found a perfect place to "invade" with no enemies to eat them. Maybe the same situation is occurring off of SoCal?

[Ladyhawk]

12. Beaked whales and sperm whales feed on large squid.

I wonder how beaked whale populations are holding up? Little is known about beaked whales. Some species have never even been seen alive. They live in pelagic areas and go on long, deep dives. As far as I know the Baird's beaked whale population is stable off California.

Does anyone know what the range of the Humboldt squid is supposed to be?

[SemperEadem]

13. those sound like Humboldt's... they're as large as a grown man

thank GOD I don't live in CA anymore!!!!

that is my worst nightmare!

The storms must have done that... also, isn't it an El Nino winter? The water might be too warm for them.

[JunkYardDogg]

17. They're Not Squid- They are BushReich Administration Members

See how easy it is to spot Dominionists without their cloaking device
on