The neon flying squid propels itself into the air by squirting out a jet of water, and then opens its fins to glide at more than 11 metres per second.
“There were always witnesses and rumours that said squid were seen flying, but no one had clarified how they actually do it. We have proved that it really is true,” said Jun Yamamoto of Hokkaido University.
Yamamoto’s team tracked a shoal of about 100 squid in the northwest Pacific Ocean in July 2011. As their boat neared, the 20 centimetre-long creatures launched into the air on jets of water.
“Once they finish shooting out the water, they glide by spreading out their fins and arms,” the team reported.
“As they land back in the water, the fins are all folded back into place to minimise the impact.”
The squid are in the air for about three seconds and travel more than 30 metres, said Yamamoto, in what he believes is a defence strategy to escape being eaten. AFP