Japanese researchers confirm squid can fly as fast as Usain Bolt



For years, fishermen and sailors have reported seeing squid “flying” across the surface of the sea, and every now and again someone gets lucky and manages to nab a few photographs of cephalopods in action. It’s only now, though, that marine biologists from Hokkaido University have discovered exactly how these squids squirt water out fast enough to propel themselves through the air at up to 11.2 metres per second — faster than Usain Bolt’s top speed of 10.31 metres per second.


Written By: Ian Steadman
continue to source article at wired.co.uk


  1. wow, this justin bolt charachter can fly now. I thought being able to run just a bit quicker than someone else was a pretty dull event, someone has got to be the fastest after all, but flying impresses me big style.

  2. Is it still called a “school” when they are airborne? I’d call it a flock of squid.

    As an aerospace engineer, it is fascinating to see the evolution of a tandem wing flying arrangement. Dragonflies and a lot of insects are tandem wing (four wing panels) but flying birds, reptiles and mammals have all gone to a wing and tail arrangement. Even more interesting for the squid is the adaptation of the multiple tentacles into a lifting surface to balance out the lift of the fins on the other end of the body – very unlike the other flying invertebrates.

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