Scientists believe humbolt squid can communicate by blinking

According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the large humbolt squid, characterized by living in the Pacific and over five feet long, has some behaviors that have only recently been discovered.

Cameras were placed on top of three humbolt squids by a group of researchers at Standford University, and the result was a display of curious behavior that could not be fully understood. The squid in question can blink for a few seconds in the ocean, darkening and returning to normal skin tone in a standardized way. According to scientists, these scintillations can be a type of communication between squid species, not just camouflage.

See the example below:

Hannah Rosen, one of the group's experts, said this is the first time such a study has been done (with cameras attached to the squid's body). Researchers already know that this type of behavior has been possible and has existed for some time, but only in very stressful situations.

The images reveal a group of squids quite calm and without any reason, if not communicating, to make use of the "flasher". There is no illumination at all, it is only the skin tone that is constantly alternated and creates this effect.

Saying hi to friends

As it is very difficult to observe the humbolt squids because their active behavior is more nocturnal, only through the cameras and natural light was it possible to perceive the color fluctuations in the animal's body. Apparently this kind of behavior can be understood as a means of communication between the squids, since the three animals only flickered when they met with others of the species.

Humbolt squids can dramatically change body color thanks to chromatophores, cells that contain pigments located on the skin and connect to the animal's nervous system. Swim acceleration and water temperature were measured by scientists, as well as the depth at which they swam. This way, you are expected to know more about these animals soon. What we do know for now is that humbolt squids are much smarter than they appear to be.