Squid Ocean Colouring Page

Squid are ocean-going relatives of octopuses, cuttlefish, and nautiluses. Hundreds of species live in seas worldwide, from bright coastal water to the deep open ocean. Some gather in enormous schools, while deep-water kinds may spend much of life alone. Their sizes are astonishingly varied: little squid can be only a few centimetres long, many familiar species have mantles of 15 to 50 centimetres, and a giant squid may reach about 13 metres when its two longest tentacles are included. Most smaller squid grow quickly and live roughly one or two years. Even giant squid are thought to live no more than about five years, showing how fast cephalopods can grow. A squid's streamlined mantle contains its organs and strong swimming muscles. Two fins at the rear help with gentle movement and steering, while a funnel below the head shoots water backward for a burst of jet propulsion. Around the mouth are eight shorter arms and two much longer feeding tentacles. The long pair can spring forward, grab fish or crustaceans with sucker-covered clubs, and draw the meal toward a hard beak. Squid have large eyes, three hearts, blue blood, and skin cells that can flash changing colours and patterns. Many can release ink when frightened. Some deep-sea species even make their own light, called bioluminescence. Find the two extra-long tentacles in the picture before beginning. Colour the mantle pearly white, blush pink, reddish brown, orange, or purple. Add spots in crimson, violet, or gold to suggest the squid's quick-changing skin. Make the two fins a slightly darker or brighter shade so their triangular shape is clear. Colour the eight short arms and the long tentacle clubs carefully, perhaps using pale peach for the suckers. The small distant fish can be silver with yellow fins. Build the open water with turquoise, medium blue, and indigo current lines, but leave some white around bubbles to make them shine. Smooth strokes running along the mantle will make the squid look fast. For a fantasy deep-sea squid, use dark violet with glowing-looking pale blue circles.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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