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Colossal Squid and Giant Squid Pictures |
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The Colossal Squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, is believed to be the largest squid species. It is also known as the Antarctic or Giant Cranch Squid. Only a few specimens have been examined but it is believed to grow to up to 45 feet, making it the largest known invertebrate. The colossal squid has arms and tentacles equipped with suckers lined with sharp teeth, and also with sharp hooks, some of which swivel, and some if which have three points. Its body is stout and heavier than that of the giant squid, with a longer mantle and shorter tentacles, and a much larger beak. It has the largest eyes of any creature in the world. It primarily lives in the Southern Ocean, from Antartica to the southern edges of New Zealand, South Africa and South America.
The giant squid, Architeuthis dux, is the second largest invertebrate, reaching lengths up to 35 feet. It has two rows of suckers lined with small teeth on the inner surface of eight arms and two tentacles, but no hooks as on the colossal squid. At the base of the arms, they have a parrot-like beak characteristic of other cephalopods. Giant squid are wide-ranging usually found near continental and island slopes from the North Atlantic Ocean to the South Atlantic, the North Pacific around Japan, and the southwestern Pacific around New Zealand and Australia. They inhabit all areas in the Southern Ocean. Both colossal squid and giant squid are eaten by whales, southern elephant seals, and sharks. The adults are taken by sperm whales and sleeper sharks, and scars on many sperm whales are believed to be caused by the hooks of the colossal squid. Juveniles are eaten by deep sea sharks seals, and fish. Both species are believed to eat large fish and other squid at deep sea levels, using bioluminescence. Mating has not been observed in either species.
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Picture of giant squid, Architeuthis dux, illustration
Picture #: 014133 |
Image of giant squid, Architeuthis dux. Many specimens are taken as accidental bycatch by deep-sea trawl every year. Wellington, New Zealand. South Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 094033 |
Stock photo of giant squid, Architeuthis dux. Visitors view the specimen on display at the Mote Marine Lab Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida
Picture #: 083523 |
Photo of the buccal mass, beaks and associated musculature, of the giant squid, Architeuthis dux, specimen taken as trawl bycatch in South Pacific Ocean off New Zealand
Picture #: 094029 |
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Picture of New Zealand teuthologist Dr. Steve O'Shea examines the beaks of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, specimen taken accidentally by longline in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.
Picture #: 094050 |
Image of a full-scale model of an immature colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, is deployed for filming for the Discovery Channel series 'Animal Face-Off.' Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. South Pacific Ocean.
Picture #: 094037 |
Stock photo of upper beaks from a colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, left and a giant squid, Architeuthis dux, right, found amongst the stomach contents of a sperm whale, Physeter catodon, stranded on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. South Pacific Ocean.
Picture #: 094042 |
Photo of Kat Bolstad measuring the largest and most complete specimen of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, known to science at present - specimen accidentally taken by longline in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.
Picture #: 094044 |
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Picture of the eye of a full-scale model of an immature Colossal Squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, created for the Discovery Channel series 'Animal Face-Off.' Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. South Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 094038 |
Image of toothed suckers on the arms of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni - specimen taken accidentally by longline in the Ross Sea, Antarctica
Picture #: 094049 |
Stock photo of a sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, eating a giant squid, Architeuthis dux, illustration
Picture #: 002667 |
Photo of the stomach caecum, gut, contents of a mature female giant squid, Architeuthis dux, showing squid remains and evidence of cannibalism - specimen taken as trawl bycatch in the South Pacific Ocean off New Zealand.Pacific Ocean off New Zealand
Picture #: 094031 |
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Picture of buccal mass (beaks and musculature) and brachial crown (arms and tentacles) of the giant squid, Architeuthis dux - specimen taken as trawl bycatch in South Pacific Ocean off New Zealand
Picture #: 094032 |
Image of defrosting specimens of the giant squid, Architeuthis dux, taken as trawl bycatch in South Pacific Ocean. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand
Picture #: 094036 |
Stock photo of full-scale model of an immature colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, is deployed for filming for the Discovery Channel series 'Animal Face-Off.' Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. South Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 094039 |
Photo of New Zealand teuthologist Dr. Steve O'Shea with the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, this specimen, an immature female taken accidentally by longline in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, is the largest and most complete of this species known to science
Picture #: 094045 |
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Picture of a small specimen of the Colossal Squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, from Macquarie Island, south Indian Ocean
Picture #: 094047 |
Image of carpal pads on the tentacle clubs of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, the suckers and knobs are believed to create a locking apparatus, holding the clubs together - specimen taken accidentally by longline in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.
Picture #: 094052 |
Stock photo of diorama of giant squid, Architeuthis dux, attacking a sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus
Picture #: 020273 |
Photo of the suckers on the arms of a specimen of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, taken accidentally by longline in the Ross Sea, Antarctica
Picture #: 094058 |
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