Giant squid invade Monterey Bay

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 25 (UPI) -- Giant squid, regarded as "aggressive, pugnacious bullies," have muscled their way into California's Monterey Bay.

The Humboldt squid, called "diablo rojo" or "red devil" by anglers, grows up to seven feet long and can weigh 100 pounds. A voracious eater, it has a parrot-like beak and tentacles covered with thousands of barbs.

"These are aggressive, pugnacious bullies, said Bruce Robison, senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. "They are a sight to behold."

They have migrated north from southern waters in recent years, according to a study released Wednesday by researchers from the institute and Stanford University. But why they have done so and what effect they will have on the area's ecosystem isn't clear.

"When it moves into an area, it can potentially have drastic impacts," said Louis Zeidberg, a Stanford researcher. "We've yet to see how that is going to play out, but it could change things."

For now, they're proving a worthy adversary for anglers.

"They fight so much, they are a real bear to pull in," Tom Mattusch of El Granada said. "I've seen big heavy construction workers after catching two or three look like they've been worked over by a prize fighter."