The golden squid is a kind of cephalopod mollusk named because of its golden or orange body color. The scientific name is Sepia esculenta, which belongs to one of the species of economic value in the squid family. Its internal calcareous inner shell, developed water jet propulsion system and unique color change ability. The golden squid is a warm-temperature offshore benthic cephalopod that depends on the complex environment of the shallow sea to complete its life cycle. To be distributed in the Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, East China Sea (such as Shandong, Liaoning, Fujian coast), as well as Japan's Honda, Kyushu sea. Preference for sandy or muddy seabed with water depth of 20-100 meters (sediment content above 70%).

For temperate mollusks, living underwater, adapt to the water temperature can not be lower than 7 ℃, the proportion of sea water 1.021 the most suitable, low salinity environment will die. Can feed on large animal plankton and grow. Widely distributed in the world's oceans of tropical and temperate waters.