Squids are among the ocean’s most fascinating creatures, known for their sophisticated camouflage abilities and remarkable intelligence. As cephalopods, they possess complex nervous systems and are characterized by a life cycle that is often extremely rapid. Their existence in the marine food web makes them a significant species, and understanding their development is important for marine science. The question of what to call a baby squid focuses on a specific, short-lived stage in this fast-paced life history.
The Accurate Terminology
The term commonly used by marine biologists for a newly hatched squid is “paralarva.” This designation is more precise than simply calling them a hatchling or a juvenile. The word paralarva was introduced to describe the post-hatching stage of cephalopods because their development differs from that of most other marine invertebrates.
A true larva typically looks dramatically different from its adult form and undergoes a major transformation, known as metamorphosis, to reach maturity. Squid, however, hatch from their eggs looking like a tiny, miniature version of the adult, complete with eight arms and two feeding tentacles. The paralarval stage is defined by its small size, planktonic lifestyle, and specific anatomical characteristics that are still developing.
Characteristics of Early Life Stages
The paralarva is often incredibly small upon hatching, with many species measuring only 2 to 3 millimeters in mantle length, sometimes tinier than a pinhead or the size of a grain of rice. Despite their minuscule size, they are fully formed predators, immediately resembling their parents. For example, the paralarvae of the market squid are equipped with a full complement of arms and tentacles.
Immediately after hatching, these small cephalopods adopt a planktonic existence, drifting passively in the water column and swimming actively toward the surface. This makes them part of the zooplankton community, and they must immediately begin hunting to survive. Their initial diet consists of readily available small organisms, such as copepods and other minute crustaceans. This period is marked by high mortality rates, as the paralarvae are a main food source for numerous small fish and other invertebrate predators.
Rapid Growth and Maturation
The paralarval stage is a brief transition period that sets the pace for the squid’s overall life history. Most squid species are fast-growing and short-lived, often completing their entire life cycle in one to two years. This rapid rate of development necessitates a quick transition from the drifting, planktonic paralarva to the actively swimming juvenile.
As the squid grows, it sheds its paralarval characteristics and becomes a true juvenile, shifting from a drifter to a strong, active hunter. For some species, this transition occurs when they reach a size of about 15 millimeters in length. The intense growth continues until they reach sexual maturity, which can occur in as little as six to seven months for some species, allowing them to reproduce and complete their brief existence.