What Is a Baby Squid Called?

Oliver Strewe/Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images

Like all cephalopods, squid start their lives as paralarvae. Unlike true larvae, paralarvae “are not morphologically distinct from adults,” according to The Coral Digest. They are, instead, miniature versions of the mature species, though they “may occupy different ecological niches.”

Cephalopods mature rapidly, reaching full size in approximately a year. Some species of squid reach lengths of over 30 feet and can weigh over 400 pounds at full maturity. The largest giant squid ever recorded was 59 feet long and weighed almost a ton, according to National Geographic. Cephalopods typically die shortly after breeding and do not usually produce multiple generations. Other members of the cephalopod family include the various species of octopus and cuttlefish.