Digestive:
The digestive tract is complete and ciliated, with a mouth, anus and complex stomach. The pattern of the stomach varies according to the mollusks diet. Food is taken up by cells lining the digestive glands arising from the stomach, and then is passed into the blood. Undigested materials are compressed and packaged, then discharged through the anus into the mantle cavity and are carried away from the animals in the water currents. This packaging of wastes in solid form prevents fouling of the water passing over the gills. Excretory functions are carried out by a pair of nephridia, tubular structures that collect fluids from the coelom and exchange salts and other substances with body tissues as the fluid passes along the tubules for excretion. The nephridia empty into the mantle cavity.
The digestive tract is complete and ciliated, with a mouth, anus and complex stomach. The pattern of the stomach varies according to the mollusks diet. Food is taken up by cells lining the digestive glands arising from the stomach, and then is passed into the blood. Undigested materials are compressed and packaged, then discharged through the anus into the mantle cavity and are carried away from the animals in the water currents. This packaging of wastes in solid form prevents fouling of the water passing over the gills. Excretory functions are carried out by a pair of nephridia, tubular structures that collect fluids from the coelom and exchange salts and other substances with body tissues as the fluid passes along the tubules for excretion. The nephridia empty into the mantle cavity.
Circulatory:
The squid has a relatively complex circulatory system for invertebrates, with a closed circulatory system. The squid has two branchial hearts at the base of the gills which send unoxygenated blood through the gills. The third ventricular heart then pumps this oxygenated blood throughout the body.
The squid has a relatively complex circulatory system for invertebrates, with a closed circulatory system. The squid has two branchial hearts at the base of the gills which send unoxygenated blood through the gills. The third ventricular heart then pumps this oxygenated blood throughout the body.
Nervous System:
Humboldt Squids being cephalopods are considered the most intelligent of all invertebrates, due to their complex brains and nervous system. These nervous systems allow the Humboldt squid to also have advanced sensory systems such as the eyes, for example the camera eye. This squid also houses a giant unmyelinated axon which can reach 1 millimeter in diameter, and controls the jet propulsion system of locomotion. Cephalopods also possess ganglia elsewhere within the mantle cavity linked to the brain by giant axons that are involved with muscular contraction. The eyes in Nautilus are primitive, but in other cephalopods are highly developed and resemble vertebrate eyes with a cornea, lens, retina, and iris. These eyes are capable of forming images and distinguishing colors.
Humboldt Squids being cephalopods are considered the most intelligent of all invertebrates, due to their complex brains and nervous system. These nervous systems allow the Humboldt squid to also have advanced sensory systems such as the eyes, for example the camera eye. This squid also houses a giant unmyelinated axon which can reach 1 millimeter in diameter, and controls the jet propulsion system of locomotion. Cephalopods also possess ganglia elsewhere within the mantle cavity linked to the brain by giant axons that are involved with muscular contraction. The eyes in Nautilus are primitive, but in other cephalopods are highly developed and resemble vertebrate eyes with a cornea, lens, retina, and iris. These eyes are capable of forming images and distinguishing colors.
Reproduction:
Exact details of the jumbo squid's reproduction are unknown. Mainly because they dwell in depths unsafe for human exploration. What is known however, is that they reproduce sexually through fertilization. Also like most cephalopods the Humboldt squid only reproduce once in their lifetime. The male packages sperm in spermatophores which are passed to females through mating. The females keep these spermatophores until they are ready to spawn, at which time they use the stored sperm to fertilize the eggs and release them into the water in a huge gelatinous mass.
Exact details of the jumbo squid's reproduction are unknown. Mainly because they dwell in depths unsafe for human exploration. What is known however, is that they reproduce sexually through fertilization. Also like most cephalopods the Humboldt squid only reproduce once in their lifetime. The male packages sperm in spermatophores which are passed to females through mating. The females keep these spermatophores until they are ready to spawn, at which time they use the stored sperm to fertilize the eggs and release them into the water in a huge gelatinous mass.