Science Main Index There are about 300 species of squid. They
are native to most of the world's oceans. The squid has a
distinct head, eight arms and two tentacles. The mouth of the
squid has a sharp horny beak used to kill and tear its prey into
small pieces. The main body of the squid is enclosed in the
mantle, which has a swimming fin along each side. However, the
swimming fin is not the squid's main way of moving through the
water. The squid can suck water into the mantle and expel it out
in a fast, strong jet. This jet propulsion provides fast,
forward movement. Although most squid are less than 2 feet in
length, the giant squid can grow up to 43 feet in length. Play
the following videos to learn more about the squid.