Giant Squid
Architeuthis dux
Quick answer
The giant squid is a deep-sea cephalopod and one of the largest invertebrates on Earth, reaching lengths of around 12 to 13 m (40 to 43 ft) including its long feeding tentacles. It has eight arms, two longer tentacles, and the largest eyes in the animal kingdom, up to the size of a dinner plate. It lives in the deep ocean and is rarely seen alive, so much of its biology remains a mystery.
Giant Squid facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Architeuthis dux |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore (deep-sea fish and other squid) |
| Habitat | Deep oceans worldwide |
| Lifespan | About 5 years (estimated) |
| Size | Up to about 13 m (43 ft) including tentacles |
| Top speed | Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in a jet burst |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Mollusca |
| Class | Cephalopoda |
Where it lives
Deep oceans worldwide, most often recorded in the North Atlantic and around Japan and New Zealand.
A giant of the deep
The giant squid is among the largest invertebrates known, with females growing longer than males. Its body includes a torpedo-shaped mantle, eight arms, and two much longer feeding tentacles tipped with sucker-lined clubs. Despite its size, its soft, water-filled body means it is not as heavy as its great length suggests.
The largest eyes on Earth
Giant squid have the largest eyes of any known animal, reaching up to about 27 cm (11 in) across, roughly the size of a dinner plate. Such enormous eyes gather the faint light of the deep sea and may help the squid detect approaching sperm whales, its main predator. Good vision is vital in a world almost without sunlight.
Hunting and feeding
Giant squid hunt in the deep ocean, seizing fish and other squid with their two long feeding tentacles and pulling prey toward a sharp, parrot-like beak. A toothed tongue called a radula then shreds the food. Like other squid, they move by jet propulsion, forcing water through a siphon to dart through the water.
Mystery and study
Because they live in the deep sea, giant squid are rarely observed alive, and most knowledge comes from carcasses washed ashore or found in sperm whale stomachs. The first video of a live giant squid in its natural habitat was not recorded until 2012. Scientists still know little about how they live, breed, and behave.
Frequently asked questions about the Giant Squid
How big can a giant squid get?
Giant squid can reach around 12 to 13 m (40 to 43 ft) in length including their long feeding tentacles, making them one of the largest invertebrates on Earth. Females tend to grow larger than males.
How large are a giant squid's eyes?
Giant squid have the largest eyes of any known animal, up to about 27 cm (11 in) across, roughly the size of a dinner plate. The huge eyes help them detect faint light and predators in the deep sea.
What do giant squid eat?
Giant squid are carnivores that hunt deep-sea fish and other squid. They catch prey with two long feeding tentacles and tear it apart with a sharp, parrot-like beak.
Why are giant squid rarely seen?
Giant squid live in the deep ocean, far below where divers and most cameras reach, so they are very hard to observe. The first footage of a live giant squid in the wild was only captured in 2012.
What are the giant squid's main predators?
Sperm whales are the giant squid's main predator, and squid beaks are often found in their stomachs. Scars from squid suckers are sometimes seen on the skin of these whales.
