Giant squid

The Giant Squid, Architeuthis dux is a marine mollusc of the class Cephalopoda. It is a deep ocean dweller that can grow to tremendous size: recent estimates put the maximum size at between 50-60 feet (17-20 meters) from caudal fin to the tip of the two long tentacles.

Despite its great length, the Giant Squid is not particularly heavy in weight compared to its chief predator, the Sperm Whale, due to the majority of its length being accounted for by its eight arms and two tentacles. Weights of recovered specimens have been measured in hundreds, not thousands, of pounds. Though an adult has never been seen alive, post-larval juveniles have been discovered in surface waters off New Zealand.

The Giant Squid posses the largest eye of any living creature, over one foot (30cm) in diameter; and its arms are equipped with over a thousand suction cups in total; each is mounted on an individual "stalk" and equipped around its circumference with a ring af sharp teeth, to aid the creature in capturing its prey by, firmly attaching itself, both by suction and perforation. Size of these suction cups can vary from 1-2 inchs in diameter (2-4cm), and it is not uncommon to find their circular scars on the head area of Sperm Whales that have fed on Giant Squid.

One of the more unusual aspects of the Giant Squid (as well as some other species of large squid) is their reliance upon the light weight of ammonia in relation to seawater to maintain neutral buoyancy in their natural enviroment, as -unlike fish- they lack a gas-filled swim bladder to accomplish this function...instead using vast numbers of tiny "statocysts" -ammonia filled cellular structures- throughout their bodies. This makes the Giant Squid unfit for human consumption, although Sperm Whales seem to be attracted by its taste.

Tales of giant squid have been common among mariners since ancient times, and may have led to the Norwegian legend of the kraken, a tentacled sea monster as large as an island capable of engulfing and sinking any ship.

Recently a possibly even more massive squid, the little known colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, has been described in more detail due to a new specimen being found. It is an inhabitant of Antarctic waters, and unlike the Giant squid, relies upon claw-like hooks rather than suction cups on it's arms and tentacles to capture prey...although its body may be of greater size than the Giant Squid, it's tendrils appear to be considerably shorter in length; it also leaves scars on the heads of Sperm Whales as they feed on it.

External adresses

• University of Michigan: Architeuthis dux
• The Smithsonian offers some fact and fiction.
• Background to documentary "Chasing Giants: On the Trail of the Giant Squid," showing temporary capture of juvenile Architeuthis.
• Encounters with Giant Squid.
• 15 January, 2003, Giant squid 'attacks French boat' Citat: "..."I saw a tentacle through a porthole," Olivier de Kersauson said from his boat. "It was thicker than my leg and it was really pulling the boat hard."..."