Purpleback Flying Squid

Scientific name: Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis
Alternative name/s:
Yellow-backed Squid
  • Author(s)
    Allison Runck
  • Updated
    29/09/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Sthenoteuthis
    Species
    oualaniensis
    Subfamily
    Ommastrephinae
    Family
    Ommastrephidae
    Super Family
    Ommastrephoidea
    Order
    Oegopsida
    Superorder
    Decapodiformes
    Subclass
    Coleoidea
    Class
    Cephalopoda
    Phylum
    Mollusca
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Body to 35 cm.

This squid has a wide distribution throughout the entire Pacific and Indian oceans. Harvested in Okinawa and Taiwan to be used as bait.

Identification

The Purpleback Flying Squid can be recognised by a large yellow light organ under the skin in animals >10cm body length. The lower edge of the body is permanently fused to the funnel.

Habitat

Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis lives in open waters from the surface of the ocean down to depths of around 1,000m.

Other behaviours and adaptations

This species appears to rise to shallower waters at night to feed.

Distribution

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  • Norman, M., (2000) Cephalopods- A World Guide, ConchBooks, Germany (Hackenheim)
  • Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney & C.E. Nauen, (1984) FAO species catalogue. Vol. 3. Cephalopods of the World: An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries, FAO Fish Synopsis, 125(3): 1-277.