The previous episode explored other genera in the squid family other than the squid genus, followed by a large comparison between cuttlefish and squid.
The scientific names are common squid and European squid, self-edited
First of all, the real cuttlefish -
Squid genus /Sepia, also known as flower branches, aconites, etc., commonly known as cuttlefish, Cuttlefish. Although, traditionally, cuttlefish refers to, for example, Man's needleless - in the 1960s it once accounted for more than 90% of China's total squid production, known as one of the four sea products! Later, due to large-scale fishing and environmental degradation, it gradually became endangered... There is a needle family that has risen. In the past ten years, thanks to measures such as stocking and fishing moratorium, needleless has gradually flourished, but cuttlefish have generally not been divided into needles and needleless.
The so-called needle actually refers to whether there is a bone needle at the tail end of the inner shell of the squid, and the two genera are divided accordingly.
Common species with and without needles, the figure is self-compiled
Despite being regarded as a rising star, the genus Squid is a solid heavyweight "unit", whether WoRMS confirms 107 species or GBIF identifies 117 species, which is obviously enough to stand out for any genus of cephalopods.
With so many members, the squid will change color, so how to distinguish it?
To identify the squid, in addition to observing the carcass pattern, the size and arrangement of the suction cups of the tentacle spikes, comparing the length of each wrist, as well as examining the various shapes of the inner shell (Cuttlbone) and the thickness of the bone needles, and even the reproductive system, but the more accurate way is to use the microscope to compare solid substances such as Statolith, Beak, and Radula! Otoliths, that is, squid head balance stones, also combined with auditory effects, the length is generally not more than 2 mm; beak pieces are also called jaws, different genera and even different species have different forms; the tooth tongue is composed of central teeth, lateral teeth and other small teeth, the shape, number and order of the teeth are an important basis for identifying the squid species. The tooth tongue is located in the jaw, which is in turn surrounded by the mouth ball muscles.
The main identification characteristics of cuttlefish, the figure is self-compiled
About the inner shell:
The squid's dorsal spine has a calcareous inner shell, and the shell is composed of a large number of air chambers, which the squid uses to adjust the gas-liquid ratio and thus control the ups and downs. After this inner shell is dried, Chinese medicine calls it sea mantis, which can prevent stomach ulcers, heal fractures, cure malaria, asthma, eye diseases, etc., wash and dry it and grind it into powder, after autoclave disinfection, it can also be sprinkled on the wound surface to stop bleeding; pet shops are called cuttlefish bones, which are generally broken for feeding hens or whole pieces for parrots to grind their mouths; industrial production is more regarded as quicklime raw materials, using it to make antacids, absorbents, polishing powder, etc., the previous toothpaste contains this powder.
The sea mantis included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia currently only lists two kinds of Man's needleless and golden squid, and whether other squid bones have the same effect has yet to be further studied and examined by scholars.
Analysis and function of the inner shell of the squid, self-compiled
It is important to note that not all cephalopods have an inner shell, and not all inner shells are calcareous! Strictly speaking, the inner shell of the squid order is called the calcareous inner shell or bone plate; other orders - such as open eyes, closed eyes, etc. are called inner shell (Gladius) or sheath, commonly known as squid bones, squid bones transparent and thin, diverse in form, play a supporting role; and cartilage shell (Cartilage shell) mainly exists in the octopus order Fin suborder, often connected to the fins, more flexible in action, finless suborder has almost no or only two small needles (also called tapers), Therefore, octopus is soft enough to easily penetrate the gap.
Cephalopods commonly see three kinds of inner shells, which are self-compiled
Although there are many species of squid, and they are all near-seafloor habitats, they can be regarded as economic species, often caught, or suitable for large-scale breeding, there are not many, and there are probably more than a dozen of them in the world who are regulars on human tables.
Among them, the most famous first is the common squid /Sepia officinalis, English Common cuttlefish, squid model species, not only large - carcass length up to 45 cm, weighing more than 4 kg, and the output is quite stable, but mainly produced in the Mediterranean Sea and the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean. There are 3 common edible cuttlefish in these areas, and the identification key to the common squid is that its tentacle spikes have 5-6 suction cups of different sizes per row; in addition, the inner shell is oval and posterior, the growth pattern is bimodal, and the bone needle is not prominent.
Common squid commonly found along the coast of Europe, self-compiled
Common coastal Chinese coastal areas are:
Golden squid / Sepia esculenta, also known as true squid, English Golden cuttlefish, dried products called northern carp or dried cuttlefish, the most common cuttlefish along the coast of China, South Korea, Vietnam and so on are also found. Small body size, carcass length is generally 20 cm, the main feature is the carcass back with gold as the base and dense brown wavy horizontal stripes, living gold is more distinct, but the female is not obvious, and mainly spots, in addition, the base of the mantle membrane usually forms a golden thick stripe, vaguely protruding 6-7 membranous pieces of flesh; the tentacle spike suction cup is dense and thin, the size is consistent; the inner shell is oblong, the growth stripe front is unmoded, and the bone needle is thicker.
Golden squid identifying characteristics, self-edited
Pseudomorphic squid /Sepia lycidas, also known as lip squid, English Kisslip cuttlefish, mainly distributed in the tropical and subtropical western Pacific coast, is a large squid, carcass length up to 40 cm, weighing nearly 5 kg; the carcass back of the eye or snout plaque is its most striking feature, there is also a monochromatic stripe at the base of the mantle membrane; the tentacle spikes are narrow and long, about 8 suction cups of similar size in each row, the number is not less than 200; the inner shell is long oval, and there is a groove in the center of the ventral surface The caudal end forms a bag-like cavity, the back is a convex frame, the growth pattern is unmoded, and the bone needle is thicker.
In the South China Sea, the pseudomorphic squid often inhabits the tabby squid.
Identification characteristics of the pseudo-order squid, self-compiled
Tabby squid/Sepia pharaonis, also known as pharaoh cuttlefish, live in the northern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, and because the area is too large, it is usually divided into 3 subspecies according to different sea areas. Tabby squid is also a large squid, carcass length up to 42 cm, weighing more than 5 kg; mature tabby squid body including the head, wrist, carcass will show wavy horizontal stripes, just like tabby, males in the foraging of these stripes are particularly distinctive, the old scientific name is called Sepia tigris; in addition to horizontal stripes, the base of the mantle membrane also has a longitudinal stripe, but it is not a single color, but by the intersperse color to form a "dotted line" stripe, different places have different colors; in addition, the tentacle ear suction cup is also very distinctive, The size is quite different, with 7 or 8 larger in the center, of which 3-4 are larger; the inner shell growth pattern is unmodiled, and the bone needle is thicker.
Tabby squid identifying characteristics, self-compiled
In addition, the tip squid, needle squid, white spotted squid, Ma's squid, etc. can also be seen offshore China, but the popularity and economic value are obviously not as good as the above, due to the length, here will not be a detailed analysis, only choose what they want to say:
Tip squid / Sepia aculeata, English Needle cuttlefish, also known as squid or reticulated squid, commonly known as needle cuttlefish (WoRMS labeled needle squid, should be wrong). It is small, with a carcass length of about 20 cm, sparse and thick points and dense fine spots on the back of the carcass, interspersed with some fine horizontal stripes; the inner shell growth pattern is bimodal, and the bone needle is thick.
The characteristics of the sharp squid are identified, and the picture is self-edited
Needle squid / Sepia andreana, English Andrea cuttlefish, commonly known as winter squid, also known as long wrist needle squid, because the male second wrist length is usually more than 2 times the length of the other wrists, and is very thick, female wrists are more uniform. It is small, with a carcass length of no more than 20 cm; the inner shell is like a flat leaf boat, bimodal, and the bone needle tip.
Needle squid identification characteristics, self-edited
There are a few more interesting things about squid!
1, we know that the flower branch is the common name of cuttlefish, but may not know, cuttlefish is not all called flower branches! --Qing Kangxi's "Chronicle of Fuqing County" explains it this way: "It is commonly called the squid is a flower branch"; the Qingqianlong "Jinjiang County Chronicle" further explains: "The cuttlefish tail is round, and the flower branch is pointed". According to this, I understand that the tail circle is needleless, in fact, the needleless squid is indeed relatively small, so the tail circle is small; and the squid such as pseudomorphic and tabby are relatively large, and there are bone needles, so the tail tip is large.
To some extent, the flower branch refers specifically to the tabby squid.
The ancients' understanding of squid, the figure is modified from the Qing Kangxi Nie Huang's "Sea Mistake Map"
2. As for why the big squid is called a flower branch? It may be that when cooking, it is inevitable to cut into slices, each piece needs to be scratched with several knives, after heating, the meat slices will naturally curl up like flowers; it may also be a description of the large squid, that is, tabby squid, the coat membrane pattern is obvious, in the water may be like "flower branches", and needleless squid is relatively less bright and shining. Of course, this is all speculation and is not accurate.
Stir-fried meat with flower branches, self-compiled
3, the squid is a warm water migratory animal, fishing proverb: "born in the north, raised in the south, and then in the north to dissect the carp" - every summer is a good season to catch the squid, cuttlefish flood from south to north, one after another. When catching cuttlefish, fishermen not only use their light-seeking instincts, open the fish lanterns at night and wait for the boat to come; they will also bind one male and female each, throw it into the sea, and use their habits of chasing and competing for mates to lure "thieves" into the net.
Set fish lamps at sea, self-compiled
4, because of the structure of the inner shell, most of the squid can only live in the offshore sea of more than 200 meters, a few can reach 800 meters deep, but it is not deep, the inner shell can not withstand the deep sea high pressure, will explode.
Ocean depth with squid inner shell, self-edited
5) Squids' family concepts are very weak, yes, they do not follow monogamy! Of course, it is also possible to improve their sperm competitiveness and egg fertilization rate.
Next ArticleWe explore squid again, including delicious, unpalatable, gentle, amazing...
colossal squid hook arm