Colossal Squid

Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni

Range: oceans surrounding Antarctica

Diet: Patagonian toothfish

Life span: no one knows; only one colossal squid has been seen alive.

       As the largest cephalopod in the world, the colossal squid reaches about 33 feet in length and weighs about 1,091 pounds. Many colossal squids are thought to live in the extreme depths of the ocean. There is proof of this; many beaks and tentacles belonging to the beast have been found in sperm whales’ stomachs, considering they have only one predator- the sperm whale. For now, we have only seen 4. Research is continuing to be done, and soon there will be news of the colossal squid around the world.     

      The reason that this squid is so large is because of something called deep sea gigantism, which can be found in the giant isopod, giant squid, and giant tube worm as well. This is an adaptation to the extreme pressure in the deep sea; every 33 feet is another atmosphere of pressure under the sea.

      Many people mistake the colossal squid for its cousin, the giant squid. Because the colossal squid is larger than any other cephalopod, it should not be mistaken for its smaller and better known version, the giant squid.