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Article: Die-off of big squid leaves experts fishing for cause in Pacific Northwest.
- Article from:
- ORian
- Article date:
- October 20, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Oregonian. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Katy Muldoon
Oct. 20--They're big, brawny, brainy, slimy and fierce, and they've washed ashore by the thousands since late last week along Washington's south coast.
Call them Moby-Squid.
Or, to be precise, Dosidicus gigas, also known as jumbo flying squid, or Humboldt squid -- a curious, sometimes cannibalistic species common to waters off South and Central America. The squid, which can grow beyond 6 feet and leap from the water and suck the very life out of an ecosystem before moving on, has shown up dead and alive off Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Its recent move into northern waters has scientists and wildlife officials serving up ...