Some baby squids look like tiny adults from the moment they hatch.
Depending on the species, some baby squids grow rapidly. Some can even go from hatchling to near-adult in a few hours to a few days.
Some squids have a short lifespan, so they've developed specific maneuvers to avoid becoming prey, such as deploying ink and using camouflage. Baby squids have not yet developed this, making them more vulnerable to predators.
Parents often lament how children grow up too quickly. One day, their kid is posing for a picture before their first day of kindergarten. A few blinks later, and they are sitting for their senior class portrait.
Childhood may seem to fly by for humans. But for some marine life, certain stages of immaturity speed past in a matter of days. Depending on the species, a new hatchling may be on the verge of adulthood within mere hours.
...
