The giant squid (genus: Architeuthis) is a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae, represented by as many as eight species. Giant squid are among the largest living organisms. Like all squid, a giant
The giant squid (genus: Architeuthis) is a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae, represented by as many as eight species. Giant squid are among the largest living organisms. Like all squid, a giant squid has a mantle (torso), eight arms, and two longer tentacles (the longest known tentacles of any cephalopod).
The arms and tentacles account for much of the squid's great length, making giant squid much lighter than their chief predators, sperm whales.
The most striking feature of the Architheutis duxis its long, torpedo-shaped body, with 10 tentacles, two of which extend longer than the rest. It has a strong beak, similar to a parrot’s and large round eyes, over 30 centimetres (1 ft) in diameter. Giant squid have a sophisticated nervous system and complex brain, attracting great interest from scientists.
Recent estimates put the maximum size at 13 metres (43 ft) for females and 10 metres (33 ft) for males from caudal fin to the tip of the two long tentacles. The mantle is about 2 metres (6.6 ft) long (more for females, less for males), and the length of the squid excluding its tentacles is about 5 metres (16 ft). It is only exceeded in size 