Photography: AZUL
Among the cephalopods (animals that have their feet on their heads, constituting the most advanced class of molluscs and, in some aspects, the most evolved of all invertebrates), squids are the fastest and most agile swimmers.
Their habitat is close to the coast, where they feed on small fish, shrimp, crabs and other squid, being considered great hunters. They are able to change colour and even texture thanks to the pigmentation cells present in their tentacles. Despite their speed, agility and camouflage system, they are vulnerable prey due to their soft body.
Ericeira’s fishermen and their boats have also adapted to changes, whether climate (which causes destructive storms from time to time) or their safe haven, which has been through an endless number of interventions in the last six decades, the most recent being the dredging of tons of sand that accumulate between the mainland and the seabed in this port basin that is also a beach.
Some of them are still resisting, along with their boats – like “Lula” (Portuguese for “squid”), present in this image captured at dawn – despite these difficulties and other threats… until when, is the big question.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
