Giant squid
Giant squid, Architeuthis sp. , modified from an illustration by A.E. Verrill, 1880. Addison Emery Verrill (1839 Greenwood Maine – 1926 Santa Barbara California) was an American Zoologist. Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopoda Subclass: Coleoidea Order: Teuthida Suborder: Oegopsina Family: Architeuthidae Pfeffer, 1900 Genus: Architeuthis Steenstrup in Harting, 1860
Species
Architeuthis dux Steenstrup, 1857 ?Architeuthis hartingii Verrill, 1875 ?Architeuthis japonica Pfeffer, 1912 ?Architeuthis kirkii Robson, 1887 ?Architeuthis martensi (Hilgendorf, 1880) ?Architeuthis physeteris (Joubin, 1900) ?Architeuthis sanctipauli (Velain, 1877) ?Architeuthis stockii (Kirk, 1882)
Synonyms
Architeuthus Steenstrup, 1857 Dinoteuthis More, 1875 Dubioteuthis Joubin, 1900 Megaloteuthis Kent, 1874 Megateuthis Hilgendorf in Carus, 1880 Megateuthus Hilgendorf, 1880 Mouchezis Velain, 1877 Plectoteuthis Owen, 1881 Steenstrupia Kirk, 1882

Giant squid are squid of the Architeuthidae family, represented by as many as eight species of the genus Architeuthis. Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000 The cephalopods ( Greek plural (kephalópoda "head-feet" are the Mollusc class Cephalopoda characterized by Subclass Coleoidea is the grouping of Cephalopods containing all the primarily soft-bodied creatures Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species Oegopsina is a Suborder of the Squid order Teuthida, in the Cephalopod Class Georg Johann Pfeffer (1854-1931 was a German Zoologist. Pfeffer was born in Berlin. Johannes Japetus Smith Steenstrup (1813 - 1897 was a Danish Zoologist, Biologist, and Professor. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic They are deep-ocean dwelling animals that can grow to a tremendous size: 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 (second only to the colossal squid at an estimated 14 metres (46 ft), one of the largest living organisms). In Zoology, deep-sea gigantism, also known as abyssal gigantism, is the tendency for species of Crustaceans, Invertebrates and other deep-sea The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The Anatomy of Fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of Water, which is much denser than air holds a relatively small amount of dissolved The Colossal Squid ( Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, from Greek mesos (middle onychos (claw and teuthis (squid sometimes called The largest organism found on earth can be measured using a variety of methods The mantle is about 2 metres (7 ft) long (more for females, less for males), and the length of the squid excluding its tentacles is about 5 metres (16 ft). The mantle is an important part of the anatomy of Molluscs It is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass There have been claims reported of specimens of up to 20 metres (66 ft), but no animals of such size have been scientifically documented.

On September 30, 2004, researchers from the National Science Museum of Japan and the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association took the first images of a live giant squid in its natural habitat. The is located in the northeast corner of Ueno park in Tokyo. The Ogasawara Whale Watching Association is an association that regulates Whale watching in the Ogasawara Islands. ^[1] Several of the 556 photographs were released a year later. The same team successfully filmed a live giant squid for the first time on December 4, 2006. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[2]

Anatomy

See also: squid and cephalopod

Like all squid, a giant squid has a mantle (torso), eight arms and two longer tentacles. Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species The cephalopods ( Greek plural (kephalópoda "head-feet" are the Mollusc class Cephalopoda characterized by The mantle is an important part of the anatomy of Molluscs It is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass The arms and tentacles account for much of the squid's great length, so giant squid are much lighter than their chief predators, sperm whales. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal Scientifically documented specimens have weighed hundreds, rather than thousands, of kilograms.

Tentacular club of Architeuthis

The inside surfaces of the arms and tentacles are lined with hundreds of sub-spherical suction cups, 2 to 5 centimetres (1 to 2 in) in diameter, each mounted on a stalk. Suction is the flow of a fluid into a partial Vacuum, or region of low pressure A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. Geometry, a diameter of a Circle is any straight Line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose Endpoints are on the The circumference of these suckers is lined with sharp, finely serrated rings of chitin. The circumference is the distance around a closed Curve. Circumference is a kind of Perimeter. Chitin ( C 8 H 13 O 5 N)n (ˈkaɪtən is a long-chain Polymer of a N-acetylglucosamine The perforation of these teeth and the suction of the cups serve to attach the squid to its prey. It is common to find circular scars from the suckers on or close to the head of sperm whales that have attacked giant squid. Each arm and tentacle is divided into three regions — carpus ("wrist"), manus ("hand") and dactylus ("finger") [1][2]. In Tetrapods the carpus is the sole cluster of the Bones in the Wrist between the radius and Ulna and the Metacarpus The manus ( Latin for Hand) is the zoological term for the distal portion of the fore limb of an animal The dactylus is the tip region of the tentacular club of Cephalopods and of the leg of some Crustaceans (see Arthropod leg) The carpus has a dense cluster of cups, in six or seven irregular, transverse rows. The manus is broader, close to the end of the arm, and has enlarged suckers in two medial rows. The dactylus is the tip. The bases of all the arms and tentacles are arranged in a circle surrounding the animal's single parrot-like beak, as in other cephalopods. Parrots are birds of the roughly 350 Species in 85 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions

A piece of sperm whale skin with giant squid sucker scars. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal

Giant squid have small fins at the rear of the mantle used for locomotion. fin is a surface used to produce lift and Thrust or to steer while traveling in Water, air or other Fluid media Like other cephalopods, giant squid are propelled by jet — by pushing water through its mantle cavity through the funnel, in gentle, rhythmic pulses. specific --->A jet engine is a Reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet of Fluid to They can also move quickly by expanding the cavity to fill it with water, then contracting muscles to jet water through the funnel. Giant squid breathe using two large gills inside the mantle cavity. A gill is an anatomical structure found in many aquatic organisms The circulatory system is closed, which is a distinct characteristic of cephalopods. Like other squid, they contain dark ink used to deter predators.

Giant squid have a sophisticated nervous system and complex brain, attracting great interest from scientists. The nervous system is a Network of specialized cells that communicate information about an animal's surroundings and itself The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain They also have the largest eyes of any living creature except perhaps colossal squid — over 30 centimeters (1 ft) in diameter. Eyes are organs that detect Light, and send signals along the Optic nerve to the visual areas of the brain The Colossal Squid ( Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, from Greek mesos (middle onychos (claw and teuthis (squid sometimes called Geometry, a diameter of a Circle is any straight Line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose Endpoints are on the Large eyes can better detect light (including bioluminescent light), which is scarce in deep water.

Giant squid and some other large squid species maintain neutral buoyancy in seawater through an ammonium chloride solution which flows throughout their body and is lighter than seawater. In Physics, buoyancy ( BrE IPA: /ˈbɔɪənsi/ is the upward Force on an object produced by the surrounding liquid or gas in which it is Seawater is Water from a Sea or Ocean. On average seawater in the world's oceans has a Salinity of about 3 Ammonium chloride ( N[[Hydrogen H]]4 Cl) (also Sal Ammoniac, salmiac, nushadir salt, zalmiak, sal armagnac This differs from the method of flotation used by fish, which involves a gas-filled swim bladder. This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter gas bladder (also fish maw, less accurately swim bladder or air bladder) is an internal organ that contributes to the ability of a Fish The solution tastes somewhat like salmiakki and makes giant squid unattractive for general human consumption. Salty liquorice or salmiak ( salmiakki in Finnish) is a variety of Liquorice (confectionery that contains a relatively large amount of

Like all cephalopods, giant squid have organs called statocysts to sense their orientation and motion in water. The cephalopods ( Greek plural (kephalópoda "head-feet" are the Mollusc class Cephalopoda characterized by The statocyst is a balance organ present in some aquatic Invertebrates ( Cnidarians Ctenophores Bilaterians) The age of a giant squid can be determined by "growth rings" in the statocyst's "statolith", similar to determining the age of a tree by counting its rings. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or Much of what is known about giant squid age is based on estimates of the growth rings and from undigested beaks found in the stomachs of sperm whales. In Human anatomy, the stomach is a J-shaped hollow muscular organ of the Gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of Digestion, following

Size

See also: Cephalopod size

Giant squid measuring over 4 metres without its two long feeding tentacles. Size has been one of the most interesting aspects of Cephalopod science to the general public

The giant squid is the second largest mollusc and the second largest of all extant invertebrates. Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000 Extant is a term commonly used to refer to Taxa (such as Species, genera or families) that are still in existence (living An invertebrate is an Animal lacking a Vertebral column. The group includes 98% of all animal Species — all animals except those in the Chordate It is only exceeded in size by the Colossal Squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, which may have a mantle nearly twice as long. The Colossal Squid ( Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, from Greek mesos (middle onychos (claw and teuthis (squid sometimes called The mantle is an important part of the anatomy of Molluscs It is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass Several extinct cephalopods, such as the Cretaceous vampyromorphid Tusoteuthis and the Ordovician nautiloid Cameroceras may have grown even larger. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Vampyromorphida is an order of Cephalopods comprising one extant species ( Vampyroteuthis infernalis) and several extinct Tusoteuthis is a genus of Cretaceous Cephalopod Molluscs One species T The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic era, and covers the time between 488 Nautiloids are a group of marine Mollusks in the subclass Nautiloidea, which all possess an external shell the best-known example being the modern Nautiluses Cameroceras ("chambered horn" was a genus of giant Orthocone Cephalopod that lived in the Ordovician period

Yet, giant squid size, particularly total length, has often been misreported and exaggerated. Reports of specimens reaching and even exceeding 18 m (59 ft) in length are widespread, but no animals approaching this size have been scientifically documented. ^[3] According to giant squid expert Dr. Steve O'Shea, such lengths were likely achieved by greatly stretching the two tentacles like elastic bands. Steve O'Shea is a marine biologist and Environmentalist known for his research on Giant squid. ^[3]

Based on the examination of 130 specimens and of beaks found inside sperm whales, giant squid's mantles are not known to exceed 2. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal 25 m (7. 4 ft) in length. ^[3] Including the head and arms, but excluding the tentacles, the length very rarely exceeds 5 m (16 ft). ^[3] Maximum total length, when measured relaxed post mortem, is estimated at 13 m (43 ft) for females and 10 m (33 ft) for males from caudal fin to the tip of the two long tentacles. An autopsy, also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy, or obduction, is a Medical procedure that consists of a thorough Examination ^[3] Giant squid exhibit reverse sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different Sex in the same Species. Maximum weight is estimated at 275 kg (606 lb) for females and 150 kg (331 lb) for males. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass ^[3]

Reproductive cycle

Little is known about the reproductive cycle of giant squid. A life cycle is a period involving 1 Generation of an Organism through means of Reproduction, whether through Asexual reproduction or Sexual It is thought that they reach sexual maturity at about 3 years; males reach sexual maturity at a smaller size than females. Females produce large quantities of eggs, sometimes more than 5 kg, that average 0. In most Birds and Reptiles an egg ( Latin ovum) is the Zygote, resulting from Fertilization of the Ovum. 5-1. 4 mm long and 0. 3-0. 7 mm wide. Females have a single median ovary in the rear end of the mantle cavity and paired convoluted oviducts where mature eggs pass exiting through the oviducal glands, then through the nidamental glands. "Ovaria" redirects here This is also a proposed section and a Synonym of Solanum. Oviduct is also another name for Fallopian tube In Oviparous Animals (those that lay eggs, the passage from the ovaries The nidamental gland is an internal organ found in some Elasmobranchs and certain Molluscs including Cephalopods (specifically Decapodiformes As in other squid, these glands produce a gelatinous material used to keep the eggs together once they are laid.

In males, as with most other cephalopods, the single, posterior testis produces sperm that move into a complex system of glands that manufacture the spermatophores. The testicle (from Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis, meaning "witness" virility plural testes) is the male A spermatophore is a capsule or mass created by males of various Animal species containing Spermatozoa and transferred in entirety to the female's Ovipore These are stored in the elongate sac, or Needham's sac, that terminates in the penis from which they are expelled during mating. The penis (plural penises, penes The penis is prehensile, over 90 centimeters long, and extends from inside the mantle. Prehensility or Prehensile is the quality of an Appendage or organ that has adapted for grasping or holding A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth

How the sperm is transferred to the egg mass is much debated, as giant squid lack the hectocotylus used for reproduction in many other cephalopods. A hectocotylus is one of the arms of the male of most kinds of Cephalopods that is modified in various ways to effect the fertilization of the female's eggs The cephalopods ( Greek plural (kephalópoda "head-feet" are the Mollusc class Cephalopoda characterized by It may be transferred in sacs of spermatophores, called spermatangia, which the male injects into the female's arms. This is suggested by a female specimen recently found in Tasmania, having a small subsidiary tendril attached to the base of each arm. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass In Botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, Leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape that is used by Climbing plants for support

Post-larval juveniles have been discovered in surface waters off New Zealand, and there are plans to capture more and maintain them in an aquarium to learn more about the creature. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a Vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which Water -dwelling Plants

Ecology

Feeding

The fabled underwater encounter between the sperm whale and giant squid, from a diorama at the American Museum of Natural History. The word diorama can refer either to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device or in modern usage a three-dimensional model usually enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum The American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH) located on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, USA is one of the largest and most

Recent studies show that giant squid feed on deep-sea fish and other squid species. They catch prey using the two tentacles, gripping it with serrated sucker rings on the ends. Then they bring it toward the powerful beak, and shred it with the radula (tongue with small, file-like teeth) before it reaches the esophagus. The radula is a toothed Chitinous ribbon typically used for scraping cutting and chewing food before it enters the Esophagus. The esophagus or oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences) sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ in They are believed to be solitary hunters, as only individual giant squid have been caught in fishing nets. Fish such as the Hoki are among the giant squid's diet. The blue grenadier, hoki, blue hake, New Zealand whiptail, whiptail or whiptail hake, Macruronus novaezelandiae, is ^[4]

Adult giant squids' only known predators are sperm whales and possibly Pacific sleeper sharks, found off Antarctica, but it is unknown whether these sharks hunt squid, or just scavenge squid carcasses. The Pacific sleeper shark, Somniosus pacificus, is a Sleeper shark of the family Dalatiidae, found circumglobally on Continental shelves Scavenging, or necrophagy, is a Carnivorous Feeding behaviour in which a predator consumes Corpses or Carrion that were killed It has also been suggested that pilot whales may feed on giant squid. The pilot whale is either of two Species of Cetacean in the Genus Globicephala. ^[5][6] Juveniles are preyed on by deep sea sharks and fishes. Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body Because sperm whales are skilled at locating giant squid, scientists have tried to observe them to study the squid.

Range and habitat

Worldwide giant squid distribution based on recovered specimens.

Giant squid are very widespread, occurring in all of the world's oceans. They are usually found near continental and island slopes from the North Atlantic Ocean, especially Newfoundland, Norway, the northern British Isles, and the oceanic islands of the Azores and Madeira, to the South Atlantic around southern Africa, the North Pacific around Japan, and the southwestern Pacific around New Zealand and Australia. Newfoundland — ˈn(jufənˌlænd (Terre-Neuve Talamh an Éisc — is a large island 15 km off the east coast of Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional The British Isles (Irish variously Na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa, Éire agus an Bhreatain Mhór; Ellanyn Goaldagh Eileanan The Azores ( Açores ɐˈsoɾɨʃ or) is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km (950  mi) from History See also History of Madeira Pre-Portuguese times Pliny mentions certain Purple Islands the position of which with reference to the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Specimens are rare in tropical and polar latitudes.

Species

The taxonomy of the giant squid, as with many cephalopod genera, has not been resolved. Lumpers and splitters may propose as many as eight species or as few as one. Lumping and splitting refers to a well known problem in any discipline which has to place individual examples into rigorously defined categories The broadest list is:

• Architeuthis dux, "Atlantic Giant Squid"
• Architeuthis hartingii
• Architeuthis japonica
• Architeuthis kirkii
• Architeuthis martensi, "North Pacific Giant Squid"
• Architeuthis physeteris
• Architeuthis sanctipauli, "Southern Giant Squid"
• Architeuthis stockii

Architeuthis sanctipauli was described in 1877 based on a specimen found washed ashore in Île Saint-Paul three years earlier. Île Saint-Paul ( St Paul Island) is an Island forming part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in the Indian Ocean, with an area

It is probable that not all of these are distinct species. No genetic or physical basis for distinguishing between them has been proposed, as evidenced by the placenames — of location of specimen capture — used to describe several of them. The rarity of observations of specimens and the extreme difficulty of observing them alive, tracking their movements, or studying their mating habits militates against a complete understanding.

In the 1984 FAO Species Catalogue of the Cephalopods of the World, C. F. E. Roper, M. J. Sweeney and C. F. Nauen wrote:

"Many species have been named in the sole genus of the family Architeuthidae, but they are so inadequately described and poorly understood that the systematics of the group is thoroughly confused. "

Kir Nazimovich Nesis (1982, 1987) considered that only three species were likely to be valid.

In 1991, Frederick Aldrich of the Memorial University of Newfoundland wrote:

"I reject the concept of 20 separate species, and until that issue is resolved, I choose to place them all in synonymy with Architeuthis dux Steenstrup. Frederick Allen Aldrich AB, MSc, PhD ( May 1, 1927 &mdash July 12, 1991) was a prominent Marine Memorial University of Newfoundland, (colloquially known as Memorial University or "MUN") is a comprehensive university located primarily in St "

In a letter to Richard Ellis dated June 18, 1996, Martina Roeleveld of the South African Museum wrote:^[4]

"So far, I have seen nothing to suggest that there might be more than one species of Architeuthis. Richard Ellis is an American Marine biologist, Author, and Illustrator. "

In Cephalopods: A World Guide (2000), Mark Norman writes the following:

"The number of species of giant squid is not known although the general consensus amongst researchers is that there are at least three species, one in the Atlantic Ocean (Architeuthis dux), one in the Southern Ocean (A. Mark Norman is a Marine biologist living in southern Australia where he works through the University of Melbourne and Museum Victoria. sanctipauli) and at least one in the northern Pacific Ocean (A. martensi). "

Timeline

Main article: List of giant squid specimens and sightings

Tales of giant squid have been common among mariners since ancient times, and may have led to the Norwegian legend of the kraken, a tentacled sea monster as large as an island capable of engulfing and sinking any ship. This list of giant squid specimens and sightings is a comprehensive listing of all recorded human encounters with members of the Genus Architeuthis Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Kraken ( kra’ ken ˈkrɑːkɘn or ˈkreɪkɘn) are legendary Sea monsters of gargantuan size said Sea monsters are sea-dwelling mythical or legendary creatures, often believed to be of immense size Japetus Steenstrup, the describer of Architeuthis, suggested a giant squid was the species described as a sea monk to the Danish king Christian III c. Johannes Japetus Smith Steenstrup (1813 - 1897 was a Danish Zoologist, Biologist, and Professor. The sea monk, or sometimes monk-fish, was the name given to a sea animal found off the coast of Denmark almost certainly in 1546 Christian III ( August 12, 1503 &ndash January 1, 1559) king of Denmark and Norway, was the son of Frederick 1550. The Lusca of the Caribbean and Scylla in Greek mythology may also derive from giant squid sightings. The lusca is a name given to a Sea monster reported from the Caribbean. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Scylla (ˈsɪlə Σκύλλα Skulla) also known as Scylle (ˈsɪli Σκύλλη Skullē) was one Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance Eyewitness accounts of other sea monsters like the sea serpent are also thought to be mistaken interpretations of giant squid. This article is about sea serpents in mythology and cryptozoology

The Alecton attempts to capture a giant squid in 1861

Steenstrup wrote a number of papers on giant squid in the 1850s. He first used the term "Architeuthus" (this was the spelling he used) in a paper in 1857. A portion of a giant squid was secured by the French gunboat Alecton in 1861 leading to wider recognition of the genus in the scientific community. From 1870 to 1880, many squid were stranded on the shores of Newfoundland. For example, a specimen washed ashore in Thimble Tickle Bay, Newfoundland on November 2, 1878; its mantle was reported to be 6. Thimble Tickle Bay is a bay on the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common 1 metres (20 ft) long, with one tentacle 10. 7 metres (35 ft) long, and it was estimated as weighing 2. 2 tonnes. In 1873, a squid "attacked" a minister and a young boy in a dory in Bell Island, Newfoundland. For the fishes known as dories see Dory (fish. For the Greek Spear see Doru. For the island also in Newfoundland one of the Grey Islands, see Bell Island. Many strandings also occurred in New Zealand during the late 19th century. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island

Giant squid from Logy Bay, Newfoundland in Reverend Moses Harvey's bathtub, November/December, 1873

Although strandings continue to occur sporadically throughout the world, none have been as frequent as those at Newfoundland and New Zealand in the 19th century. Moses Harvey LLD ( March 21, 1820 &ndash September 3, 1901) clergyman essayist and naturalist born Armagh, It is not known why giant squid become stranded on shore, but it may be because the distribution of deep, cold water where squid live is temporarily altered. Many scientists who have studied squid mass strandings believe that they are cyclical and predictable. The length of time between strandings is not known, but was proposed to be 90 years by Architeuthis specialist Frederick Aldrich. Frederick Allen Aldrich AB, MSc, PhD ( May 1, 1927 &mdash July 12, 1991) was a prominent Marine Aldrich used this value to correctly predict a relatively small stranding that occurred between 1964 and 1966.

The search for a live Architeuthis specimen includes attempts to find live young, including larvae. The larvae closely resemble those of Nototodarus and Moroteuthis, but are distinguished by the shape of the mantle attachment to the head, the tentacle suckers, and the beaks. Moroteuthis is a Genus of Squids in the family Onychoteuthidae.

The first footage of live larval giant squid ever captured on film was in 2001. The footage was shown on Chasing Giants: On the Trail of the Giant Squid on the Discovery Channel. Discovery Channel is an American Satellite and Cable TV channel (also delivered via IPTV, Terrestrial television and ^[7]

As of 2004, almost 600 giant squid specimens had been reported. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " ^[8]

The first photographs of a live giant squid in its natural habitat were taken on September 30, 2004, by Tsunemi Kubodera (National Science Museum of Japan) and Kyoichi Mori (Ogasawara Whale Watching Association). Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " is a Japanese Zoologist with the National Science Museum of Japan. The is located in the northeast corner of Ueno park in Tokyo. Kyoichi Mori is a Japanese whale watcher who assisted Tsunemi Kubodera in taking the first photographs of a living Giant squid in its natural habitat The Ogasawara Whale Watching Association is an association that regulates Whale watching in the Ogasawara Islands. Their teams had worked together for nearly two years to accomplish this. They used a five-ton fishing boat and only two crew members. The images were created on their third trip to a known sperm whale hunting ground 970 kilometers (600 mi) south of Tokyo, where they had dropped a 900 metre (2953 ft) line baited with squid and shrimp. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The line also held a camera and a flash. After over 20 tries that day, an 8 meter (26 ft) giant squid attacked the lure and snagged its tentacle. Tentacles can refer to the elongated flexible organs that are present in some animals especially Invertebrates and sometimes to the hairs of the leaves of some insectivorous The camera took over 500 photos before the squid managed to break free after four hours. The squid's 5. 5 metre (18 ft) tentacle remained attached to the lure. Later DNA tests confirmed the animal as a giant squid. Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known

On September 27, 2005, Kubodera and Mori released the photographs to the world. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The photo sequence, taken at a depth of 900 meters (2953 ft) off Japan's Ogasawara Islands, shows the squid homing in on the baited line and enveloping it in "a ball of tentacles. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. " The researchers were able to locate the likely general location of giant squid by closely tailing the movements of sperm whales. According to Kubodera, "we knew that they fed on the squid, and we knew when and how deep they dived, so we used them to lead us to the squid. " Kubodera and Mori reported their observations in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society. The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660

One of the series of images of a live giant squid taken by Kubodera and Mori in 2004.

Among other things, the observations demonstrate actual hunting behaviors of adult Architeuthis, a subject on which there had been much speculation. The photographs showed an aggressive hunting pattern by the baited squid, leading to it impaling a tentacle on the bait ball's hooks. This may disprove the theory that the giant squid is a drifter which eats whatever floats by, rarely moving so as to conserve energy. It seems that the species has a much more belligerent feeding technique.

In December 2005, the Melbourne Aquarium in Australia paid AUD$100,000 (around £47,000GBP or $90,000US) for the intact body of a giant squid, preserved in a giant block of ice, which had been caught by fishermen off the coast of New Zealand's South Island that year. Melbourne Aquarium is a Southern Ocean and Antarctic aquarium in central Melbourne, Australia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Ice is a Solid phase, usually crystalline, of a Non-metalic substance that is liquid or gas at Room temperature, such as Ammonia New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. ^[9]

Still image from the first video of a live adult giant squid, filmed on December 4, 2006 by researchers from the National Science Museum of Japan led by Tsunemi Kubodera.

In early 2006, another giant squid, later named "Archie", was caught off the coast of the Falkland Islands by a trawler. A commercial trawler is a commercial Fishing vessel designed to operate fishing trawls. It was 8. 62 metres (28 ft) long and was sent to the Natural History Museum in London to be studied and preserved. The Natural History Museum is one of three large Museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London (the others are the Science Museum London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. It was put on display on March 1, 2006 at the Darwin Centre. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Natural History Museum is one of three large Museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London (the others are the Science Museum ^[10][11] The find of such a large, complete specimen is very rare, as most specimens are in a poor condition, having washed up dead on beaches or been retrieved from the stomach of dead sperm whales.

Researchers undertook a painstaking process to preserve the body. It was transported to England on ice aboard the trawler; then it was defrosted, which took about four days. The major difficulty was that thawing the thick mantle took much longer than the tentacles. To prevent the tentacles from rotting, scientists covered them in ice packs, and bathed the mantle in water. The Aviation term ROT stands for rate one turn, also known as a standard rate turn. Then they injected the squid with a formol-saline solution to prevent rotting. The creature is now on show in a 9 metres (30 ft) long glass tank at the Darwin Centre of the Natural History Museum. The Natural History Museum is one of three large Museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London (the others are the Science Museum

On December 4, 2006, an adult giant squid was finally caught on video by Kubodera near the Ogasawara Islands, 1,000 km (620 mi) south of Tokyo. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. It was a small female about 3. 5 m (11 ft 6 in) long and weighing 50 kg (110 lb). It was pulled aboard the research vessel but died in the process. ^[12]

Cultural depictions

An illustration from the original edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea depicting a giant squid. For the 1954 film starring Kirk Douglas see 20000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Main articles: Giant squid in culture and Kraken in popular culture

The elusive nature of the giant squid and its terrifying appearance have firmly established its place in the human imagination. The Giant squid 's elusive nature and fearsome appearance have long made it a popular subject of legends and folk tales The sea monster Kraken has seen numerous appearances in fictional works and popular culture Representations of the giant squid have been known from early legends of the Kraken through books such as Moby-Dick and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea to modern animated television programs. Kraken ( kra’ ken ˈkrɑːkɘn or ˈkreɪkɘn) are legendary Sea monsters of gargantuan size said Moby-Dick is an 1851 Novel by Herman Melville. The story tells the adventures of the wandering sailor Ishmael and his voyage on the whaleship For the 1954 film starring Kirk Douglas see 20000 Leagues Under the Sea.

In particular, the image of a giant squid locked in battle with a sperm whale is a common one, although the squid is, in fact, the whale's prey and not an equal combatant. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal

See also

• Cephalopod size
• Deep-sea gigantism
• Humboldt Squid
• Colossal Squid
• Tusoteuthis
• List of giant squid specimens and sightings
• Mythical gigantic cephalopods:
  • Kraken
  • Lusca
  • Cthulhu, an alien creature with a cephalopod like appearance from the H. P. Lovecraft story The Call of Cthulhu. Size has been one of the most interesting aspects of Cephalopod science to the general public In Zoology, deep-sea gigantism, also known as abyssal gigantism, is the tendency for species of Crustaceans, Invertebrates and other deep-sea The Humboldt Squid ( Dosidicus gigas) also known as Jumbo Squid, Jumbo Flying Squid, or Diablo Rojo (Red Devil, is a large aggressive The Colossal Squid ( Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, from Greek mesos (middle onychos (claw and teuthis (squid sometimes called Tusoteuthis is a genus of Cretaceous Cephalopod Molluscs One species T This list of giant squid specimens and sightings is a comprehensive listing of all recorded human encounters with members of the Genus Architeuthis Kraken ( kra’ ken ˈkrɑːkɘn or ˈkreɪkɘn) are legendary Sea monsters of gargantuan size said The lusca is a name given to a Sea monster reported from the Caribbean. Cthulhu is a giant fictional creature one of the Great Old Ones in H Howard Phillips Lovecraft ( August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of horror, fantasy For the 2005 film see The Call of Cthulhu (film. " The Call of Cthulhu " is one of H
  • Watcher in the Water, a colossal squid-like being in J.R.R Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring. The Watcher in the Water is a Tentacled Monster in J R R Tolkien 's Middle-earth fantasy writings; it appears in The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three volumes of the epic novel The Lord of the Rings by the English author J
• Gigantic octopus

References

• National Geographic Video: "Sea Monsters"
• Aldrich, F. Overview The NGS's historical mission is "to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's cultural historical and natural A. & E. L. Brown 1967. The Giant Squid in Newfoundland. The Newfoundland Quarterly. Vol. LXV No. 3. p. 4–8.
• New giant squid predator found. Retrieved on October 6, 2005. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• Holroyd, J. New squid on the (ice) block, The Age, 21 December 2005. The Age is a Broadsheet daily Newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854 Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• Grann, D. The Squid Hunter. New Yorker, May 24, 2004.
• Foxnews.com: New giant squid predator found. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
• BBC.co.uk: New giant squid predator found.

External links

• CephBase: Architeuthis
• Tree of Life Web Project: Architeuthis
• [3] - Video of a giant squid
• BBC News Report
• Holy Squid! Photos Offer First Glimpse of Live Deep-Sea Giant
• TONMO.com's fact sheet for giant and colossal squids
• TONMO.com's giant squid reproduction article
• Reuters: Video of Giant Squid
• Encounters with Giant Squid
• 15 January, 2003, Giant squid 'attacks French boat'
• Cephalopod taxonomy (as PDF)
• Scientific report in Proceedings of the Royal Society
• In Search of Giant Squid - Smithsonian Institution Exhibition
• New Zealand - 1999 Expedition Journals In Search of Giant Squid