Crazy Colossal Squid!!!!! Episode 5
Welcome back to Weird Fish of the Week! This week’s contestant is quite an infamous one, please welcome the Colossal Squid!
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| from New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries |
INTRODUCTION
The name ‘colossal squid’ more than likely provokes imagery of old ships being torn apart and devoured at sea, but the real colossal squid, while impressive, does not eat ships. Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, also known as the Antarctic cranch squid, was first named in 1925 in the stomach of a whale, with only the arms to go off of. Considered the most massive of any squid, they live deep in Antarctic waters past 1000m. Scientists have recovered very few specimens, and only 8 adults have been reported. No males have been found and 6 of those adult specimens were found inside of whales’ stomachs. The squids reach lengths of 14m (~46 ft) and are predicted to reach weights of around 600 kg based on beaks found in whale stomachs. As for confirmed weight and length, the specimen in Te Papa at the Museum of New Zealand weighed 490 kg and had a mantle of 2.5 m. |
| Illustration comparing colossal squid to humans. Wikimedia Commons |
One glaring difference between the colossal squid and its other squid relatives is that head. While most squids are very slender, the colossal squid sports a large bulbous head. Its fin is also very large and muscular, alluding to being used for short bursts of speed in water. Like any other squid, they have eight arms and two tentacles. The tentacles are the longer appendages, ending in club-like shapes. Both arm and tentacle hold suckers and hooks, but sport significant differences. Those club ends have rotating hooks for catching and gripping prey, which is unique from any other squid. The arms are more abundant in larger suckers, and have hooks that are stationary. Adding on to the pain factor for its prey, the suckers are actually serrated! Some toothfish have been found with circular markings reminiscent of a colossal squid sucker. The squid’s eyes are the largest of any animal, reaching 27 cm across (the size of a soccer ball according to the Museum of New Zealand). These eyes and their massive size is needed for seeing in the dark dark depths it lives. Inside the eyes are bioluminescent photophores that use chemical reactions to produce light for the squid.
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| Colossal squid at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa |
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| Rotating tentacle hook and arm sucker, 2008 Te Papa |
FOOD
We don’t know for sure, but scientists have deduced that the squid eats mainly Antarctic toothfish, chaetognaths, and other squids. The simulation below shows what it could possibly look like when the colossal squid hunts.
PERSONAL REVIEW
Honestly a pretty solid squid. One can’t compare it to the fantasy stories of krakens tearing down ships; this creature is insane in its own right. I want you to go pick up a soccer ball right now (I don’t care who or where you are) and look at it. That’s a whole colossal squid eye, and it glows in the dark. Absolutely bonkers. Huge respect for the colossal squid and everything it does. 10/10.
And that concludes our episode! As always, I encourage you to go research this animal for yourself, or any other squid. The ocean holds so much fascinating life and this ginormous squid is only the tip of the iceberg. Until next time, see ya later!
Dr. M. (2013, 22 October). How Big is a Colossal Squid Really? Deep Sea News.https://www.deepseanews.com/2013/10/how-big-is-a-colossal-squid-really/
MarineBio. (n. d.) Colossal Squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. The MarineBio Conservation Society. https://www.marinebio.org/species/colossal-squid/mesonychoteuthis-hamiltoni/
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa. (n. d.) The life and habits of a colossal squid. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa. https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/science/colossal-squid/life-and-habits-colossal-squid
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa. (n. d.) The anatomy of the colossal squid. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa. https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/science/colossal-squid/anatomy-colossal-squid
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