# Humboldt squid (*Dosidicus gigas*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/humboldt-squid  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) is a mollusc of the class Cephalopoda, order Oegopsida and family Ommastrephidae. It is also called Red devil, Jumbo squid and Jumbo flying squid. The species was named by (A. d'Orbigny, 1835) and belongs to the genus Dosidicus, subfamily Ommastrephinae and superfamily Cranchioidea. On the IUCN Red List, the humboldt squid is assessed globally as Data Deficient (DD).

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | 1.5 m |
| Lifespan | 1 year – 2 years |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Data Deficient (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Mollusca
- class: Cephalopoda
- order: Oegopsida
- family: Ommastrephidae
- genus: Dosidicus
- species: *Dosidicus gigas* (A. d'Orbigny, 1835)

Synonyms: *Dosidicus eschrichtii*, *Dosidicus steenstrupii*, *Loligo gigas*, *Ommastrephes giganteus*, *Ommastrephes gigas*, *Sepia nigra*, *Sepia tunicata*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the humboldt squid?

The humboldt squid is a mollusc in the class Cephalopoda, order Oegopsida and family Ommastrephidae.

### What is the scientific name of the humboldt squid?

Its scientific name is Dosidicus gigas, in the genus Dosidicus.

### Who named the humboldt squid and when?

The species authority is written as (A. d'Orbigny, 1835).

### What other names does the humboldt squid have?

It is also called Red devil, Jumbo squid and Jumbo flying squid.

### Is the humboldt squid endangered?

The IUCN Red List assesses the humboldt squid globally as Data Deficient (DD).

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/humboldt-squid