The Common Squid is also known as the European Common Squid and is a ‘cephalopod’. A cephalopod is a fast-swimming mollusc that has suckered tentacles attached to its head, just like the Common Cuttlefish and the Lesser Octopus. It is usually found offshore all around the coasts of England, although it is more commonly found on the south coast. It can sometimes be spotted in deep rock rocks and is often referred to as ‘calamari’.

The Common Squid can reach a length of thirty centimetres and has ten suckered tentacles attached to its head with two of the tentacles being longer for seizing food. Its head is quite large with two black eyes. It has an almost tubular-shaped flattened body and a long, internal pen-shaped shell which supports the Common Squid’s slender body.

The Common Squid can change its body colour to suit its surroundings so it can be a pale grey to a brown or purple colour and like the Common Cuttlefish it can release a sort of ink-type dark fluid from its body when it feels threatened. The inky fluid makes the water dark which confuses any predator. During the predator’s confusion the Common Squid quickly escapes to safety.