Squid Blog

Hello followers..or should I say..follower? My Bio class last week did a dissection on squids. Let's just say I wasn't prepared for this. The whole class was talking about calamari..even our teacher wanted bring in a frier. I did not part take in this...calamari chanting voodoo magic ritual. Seafood and I don't go together. Let's just say we have a hate-hate relationship. Back onto the actual dissection of the animal..I was glad in that part. As the squid kept me interested..making me feel like a surgeon. Although it was a dirty job..it had to be done.

1.) How many pairs of gills does the squid have?
 It was one pair of gills.

2.) Where does the ink sac empty into and what is its functio?
The ink sac empties out into the water jet. It's used to make a cloud of ink distract the predator long enough for it to get away.

Here is the ink sac

The Kraken has been released.

The beak..accidentally took it out wrong so there are 2 pieces..and the mouth :D

The hearts

Wait a second..this isn't the squid we worked on! Probably never gonna try calamari

Stanley my partner in crime finding the legs and tentacles.

Before the open squid surgery.

A close up on the squid's skin..not 101 Dalmatians

3.) What is the function of the pen? What would happen if the squid didn't have a pen?
The pen is a feather-shaped internal structure that supports the squid's mantle and serves as a site for muscle attachment. (Got this from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid )

4.) How do you think wastes exit the squid?
Through the anus and then the water jet.

5.) Name two external features that are adaptations for the squid's predatory life.
Water Jet and tentacles. These adaptations enable the squid to swim faster.

6.) Do you remember the general traits of molluscs we discussed in the lecture? Name two trats that the squid shares with other mollusks.
A soft body and a coelom. A coelom for the ones who don't know are body cavities for the internal organs.