Giant Squid (Architeuthis)

Only recently have scientists captured photographs of giant squid alive in their deep sea habitats. 2006 in particular was a big year because Japanese scientist Tsunami Kubadera was able to photograph a giant squid as it tried to take bait that the crew had lowered into the sea. While it provoked more questions than it answered, it is one of the most significant contributions to the research of giant squid. Most other information we know about them is deduced from bodies washed ashore and knowledge of general squid and cephalopods.

Classification

Chances are you won't know what any of this means unless you've taken Biology or remember what you learned there.

A species is not defined here as there is an ongoing debate on the classification of giant squid; scientists aren't entirely sure how to define them. Some prefer just one to represent all giant squid, Architeuthis Dux, while others prefer to divide them by location, allowing for up to eight different species.

Deductions

We know that sperm whales looooove giant squid and are their major predator because suction marks and scars that were only big enough to be induced by a giant squid have been found on sperm whale's skin. Sleeper sharks also prey on giant squid, but are not as prominent as sperm whales. Meanwhile the squids themselves eat deep sea fish and other squid, including their own young. Scientists have also deduced that squid generally live between 1,000ft-3,000ft deep due to the sperm whale's diving range (it would have to be somewhere in there in order for the sperm whales to be able to pursue giant squid) as well as the fact that we generally don't see giant squid until they're found on the beach (dead). Pursuing sperm whale is actually how Dr. Kubadera was able to locate a giant squid, along with good old fashioned luck.

Dr. Kubadera's analysis of the giant squid he filmed didn't conclude much, but he deduced that giant squid actively hunt their prey and grab it with all arms, sometimes drawing in all limbs and curling itself into a ball while approaching. He also observed that the giant squid is powerful enough to cut its own arm off, as the squid he filmed got caught in the bait line and was unable to get itself free after hours of struggling, thus severing its own arm to survive.

Anatomy

Giant squid have eight legs, two feeding tentacles, a beak (mouth) and two eyes, one on each side of its body (and are able to see in the dark very well). In fact, the eyes of a giant squid are the largest of any animal recorded: they are 25cm in length and are about the size of a volleyball. Hundreds of suction cups with teeth cover the eight arms and empower the squid to be a great swimmer. Generally speaking, giant squid can grow to be 59ft (18m) and weigh up to 1,980lbs (900kg) - nearly a ton. They are maroon until washed up on shore, where their color turns to a very bland yellowish white. They also have very complex brains and have hearts with four chambers.

The Kraken

Giant Squid have been recognized in folklore and old myths mostly as the kraken, a large squid whose hobbies included breaking ships in half, sinking them and causing general mayhem and catastrophe.