Japanese flying squid Coloring Pages

They swim like they're flying through the sea! The Japanese flying squid!

The Japanese flying squid is a familiar squid that you can see a lot in the seas around Japan. The way it swims so fast is just like it is flying in the sea. It is a very familiar sea creature that you often see in the fish section at the supermarket.

What does the Japanese flying squid look like?

The Japanese flying squid's body has a rocket-like shape that is perfect for swimming fast! The triangular part on its head is called the "fin" or "enpera" (sometimes called the "ears"), and it helps steer when swimming. Also, the biggest feature is its 10 legs! But actually, the two long ones are called "tentacles" for catching prey. So, a Japanese flying squid really has 8 legs! With its big eyes, it can easily find prey even in the dark ocean.

It changes color in a flash!

A Japanese flying squid can change its body color in a flash! When it gets surprised, angry, or sends signals to its friends, it can turn brownish or whitish. Changing its color to match its surroundings also helps it hide from big fish.

Zooming with jet power!

The Japanese flying squid sucks up seawater into its body and shoots it out with a lot of force to move forward. This is called "jet propulsion." It can swim super fast, just like a rocket! When enemies attack, it squirts out black ink to surprise them so it can escape.

Where do they live?

The Japanese flying squid lives in big groups, swimming through the wide seas around Japan. Its lifespan is about one year, which is super short! During its short life, it grows up while traveling through the vast ocean.

What does "Surume" mean in Japanese flying squid?

The "surume" everyone knows is dried squid, right? This Japanese flying squid gets its name "Japanese flying squid" because it is often used to make dried squid! There is also a theory that its name comes from "sumi-mura," which means a schooling group of squid spitting ink.

The Japanese flying squid has a beak (squid beak)!

Squid have a beak at the base of their legs. This is called "ika-tonbi." It is hard just like a bird's beak and cannot be eaten, so people remove it when cooking.

How to Choose Your Colors

Japanese flying squid are masters at changing their body color, so try coloring yours in any color you like! It is also fun to imagine what color a real Japanese flying squid is while you color.

• Body color: When they are alive, they are often reddish-brown or dark brown. But making them whitish or adding tiny dot patterns on their body is great too.
• Belly color: If you make it a paler color or whitish compared to its back, it will look just like a real one.
• Fins: Making them the same color as the body, or a little bit darker, looks cool.
• Eyes: Their eyes are super big, so try coloring them black or deep blue. If you add a gold ring around the eyes, they will look shiny and bright.
• Arms and suckers: Try coloring the arms in a color like the body. For the round suckers on the arms, dabbing them with light purple or pink makes them look super cute.

Make the Body Look Smooth and Shiny!

A Japanese flying squid's body is smooth and shiny because it is wet with water. Let's make it look like light is hitting it.

• When using colored pencils: Color along the curve of the body, and leave the highest part of the back a little white or light. It will look like it is shining and pop out at you!
• When using crayons: After you color, gently rub it with your finger. The colors will mix together and look super smooth.

How to Color to Make It Look 3D

A Japanese flying squid has a round, 3D shape. If you color the "shadows," it will look even more real!

• Where the arms overlap
• The base of the fins
• The very bottom part of the body
• For places like these, use a color that is a little darker than the body color (for example, layer a little dark brown over brown). This makes cool shadows!

Draw a Lively Ocean!

• The surrounding ocean: Mixing different blues like blue, light blue, and emerald green makes the ocean look super pretty. If you draw bubbles with a white crayon first and then color blue over them, the bubbles will pop right out!
• Prey: It is also fun to add a school of small fish (like sardines) that the Japanese flying squid is chasing. Try coloring them in shiny silver!
• Ink: Try drawing black ink puffing out from its tail end! It makes a powerful picture of it escaping from an enemy.

Tips for Enjoying Your Coloring Page!

Having a rainbow Japanese flying squid or a star-patterned Japanese flying squid is totally awesome too! Treasure your feeling of "I wish a Japanese flying squid like this existed!" and have fun coloring freely.