Every year in southern California, market squid (Loligo opalescens) lay their eggs in clusters along the sea floor, sometimes covering acres in a single area. These attract a plethora of critters, and you never quite know what you'll encounter.
The Gathering
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| Market squid gather in the hundreds and sometimes thousands to mate and lay their eggs for the next generation. While mating, the males' arms sometimes turn red as a warning to other males to back off. Soon after mating, the squid perish and are introduced back into the food chain by the scavengers. |
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This is a close-up shot of one of the squid egg casings. The eggs take roughly 3-5 weeks to hatch, and the tiny squid begin swimming immediately. In the photo above you can make out the developing squid, some of which have developed eyes and pigment spots.The Critters
While descending onto the sea floor, one can easily spot the large predators which frequent the area, including bat rays, lobster, and sea stars. However, it's not until you really get close to the scene that you witness the multitude of smaller critters that are paying a visit to this temporary phenomenon.
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A Hemphill's kelp crab clings to the end of an egg casing. This particular basket contained over a dozen of these decorated crabs.  
A tiny speckled sanddab tries its hardest to blend in without success.
The next time you're lucky enough to dive among the market squid and their future generation, be sure to take a closer look. You may be surprised as to what you find.
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