The rocket of the ocean. The broad squid is a master of high-speed aquatic engineering. Unlike their more patient octopus cousins, these cephalopods are built for the open water chase, utilising a sophisticated form of jet propulsion to navigate the three-dimensional world of the New Zealand coastline. By drawing water into their muscular mantle and blasting it out through a flexible siphon, they can achieve bursts of speed that make them some of the most formidable predators in the pelagic zone. Internally, they possess a structure known as a pen, which is a thin, translucent shell made of chitin that provides a structural backbone for their streamlined bodies. This internal support allows them to maintain their shape while performing high-speed manoeuvres that would otherwise distort a soft-bodied animal. The sensory capabilities of the broad squid are a marvel of independent evolution, particularly their eyes, which are remarkably similar in structure to human eyes despite developing on an entirely different biological branch. This high-resolution vision is essential for a visual hunter that must distinguish the shimmering scales of a pilchard from the sun-dappled surface of the water. Their hunting strategy involves a lightning-fast strike using two elongated feeding tentacles, which are equipped with serrated suckers to secure slippery prey. When the breeding season arrives, they congregate in large numbers in sheltered bays to attach clusters of translucent, finger-like egg capsules to seaweed or seafloor debris. These sea grapes are left to the mercy of the currents, as the adults do not provide parental care. Instead, they leave the next generation to fend for themselves as tiny, fully formed hunters from the moment they hatch. In the wider New Zealand marine food web, these squid serve as a critical energy bridge, converting vast quantities of planktonic crustaceans into high-protein meals for larger predators such as albatross, kingfish and even the occasional visiting whale.