Giant squid
| Giant squid | |
|---|---|
| Specimen of a giant squid that washed ashore in Trondheim, Norway being measured in 1954 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Oegopsida |
| Superfamily: | Architeuthoidea |
| Family: | Pfeffer, 1900 |
| Genus: | Steenstrup in Harting, 1860 |
| Species: | A. dux
|
| Binomial name | |
| Architeuthis dux Steenstrup, 1857
| |
| Worldwide giant squid distribution based on recovered specimens | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The giant squid (Architeuthis dux) is a species of deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae. It can grow to a tremendous size, offering an example of abyssal gigantism: recent estimates put the maximum body size at around 5 m (16 ft) for females, with males slightly shorter,[2] from the posterior fins to the tip of its long arms. This makes it longer than the colossal squid at an estimated 4.2 m (14 ft),[3] but substantially lighter, as it is less robust and its arms make up much of the length.[4] The mantle of the giant squid is about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long (longer for females, shorter for males), and the feeding tentacles of the giant squid, concealed in life, are 10 m (33 ft).[2] Claims of specimens measuring 20 m (66 ft) or more have not been scientifically documented.[2][5][6][7]
The number of different giant squid species has been debated, but genetic research suggests that only one species exists.[8]
In 2004, a Japanese research team obtained the first images of a living animal in its habitat.[9]
- ^ Allcock, L.; Barratt, I. (2014). "Architeuthis dux". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163265A991505. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T163265A991505.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
OSheawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Roper, C. F. E.; Jereb, P. (2010). "Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids". In Jereb, P.; Roper, C. F. E. (eds.). Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. Vol. 2. Rome: FAO. pp. 148–178. No. 4, Vol. 2. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ Atkinson, Kent (1 May 2008). "Size matters on 'squid row' (+photos, video)". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
McClain_etal_2015was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Tracey, D. M., O. F. Anderson & J. R. Naylor (2011). A guide to common deepsea invertebrates in New Zealand waters. Third edition. Archived 23 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington. 317 pp.
- ^ Yukhov, V. L. (2014). Гигантские кальмары рода Architeuthis в Южном океане / Giant calmaries Architeuthis in the Southern ocean Archived 9 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine. [Gigantskiye kalmary roda Architeuthis v Yuzhnom okeane.] Ukrainian Antarctic Journal no. 13: 242–253. (in Russian)
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
geneticswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Kubodera, T.; Mori, K. (2005). "First-ever observations of a live giant squid in the wild". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 272 (1581): 2583–2586. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3158. PMC 1559985. PMID 16321779.