A recent discovery of a deep-sea squid, by deep-water fisheries expert, Dr Alexander Arkhipkin of the Falkland Islands Government Fisheries department, and his colleagues, has vanquished the mystery of how these animals mate. The BBC has reported on this find and the full article can be found in the Journal of Molluscan Studies.
A male squid was caught, and upon opening the mantle, the scientists found an elongated and erect penis, which was almost as long as the squids body. This explains exactly how deep-sea squids mate, including giant squids; previously no-one was really sure, theories put forward included giants squids ‘shooting’ their spermatophores hydraulically to the females from a distance. This can now be ruled out.
This is a fascinating find, as the method of squid’s mating habits have always baffled scientists. Due to the complicated body of the female squid, scientists had always wondered exactly how the male accessed the sexual organs of the female which are hidden under the mantle. Now, it is clear that the males have these extra long penises to ‘fit the job’.
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