Rare Squid Found Dead on Baltic Sea Shore in Northern Germany

A 20-centimeter shortfin squid, not native to the Baltic Sea, was discovered by a hobbyist near Hohwacht, raising questions about its unusual presence.

A hobby-paleontologist discovered a dead shortfin squid (Illex coindetii) near the steep coastline of Hohwacht in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
The squid, which measured 20 centimeters and was fully grown, is not typically found in the Baltic Sea and was likely carried there by deep water currents.
Marine biologists suggest that the squid's presence could be linked to its ecological adaptability and the inflow of deep water through the Danish straits into the Baltic Sea.
Illex coindetii, once a rare visitor in the North Sea, has now established populations there, possibly aiding its occasional appearance in the Baltic region.
The discovery highlights the increasing movement of marine species to new habitats, potentially driven by environmental shifts and changing oceanic conditions.