Rare ‘Klamar Tat-Tikek’ Egg Mass Spotted In Gozo Waters

A fascinating underwater discovery has been made off Gozo’s coast after a rare egg mass belonging to the diamondback squid, known in Maltese as the klamar tat-tikek, was photographed at Mġarr ix-Xini.

The remarkable sighting was shared by marine biologist Alan Deidun, who posted photos captured earlier today by Emma Mallia and Noel Gauci.

According to Deidun, the egg mass belongs to Thysanoteuthis rhombus, a fast-growing squid species that typically lives for just one year.

Despite its relatively short lifespan, the species can grow to an impressive length of up to one metre and is known to inhabit waters as deep as 650 metres.

The diamondback squid has a widespread global distribution and is particularly popular among fishers in regions such as the Sea of Japan.

The images offer a rare glimpse into the reproductive cycle of one of the Mediterranean’s more elusive marine creatures and highlight the rich biodiversity found in Maltese waters.

Deidun thanked the photographers for documenting the unusual sighting, which is already attracting attention among marine life enthusiasts and conservationists alike.

Have you ever spotted something like this?

Photo credits to @alandeidun

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Gabriel Falzon

Gabriel Falzon is a social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.