Colossal Squid

Colossal Squid Latest News

Marine scientists recently captured the world’s first footage of a colossal squid swimming freely in its natural habitat – nearly a century after the species was first identified.

About Colossal Squid

• It is one of the largest and most elusive invertebrates on Earth.
• Scientific Name: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
• Distribution: It is found in the icy depths of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.

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Colossal Squid Features

• This soft-bodied marine animal is somewhat like an octopus, but with a much bulkier frame and far greater length.
• It has a tube-shaped body, huge eyes, and arms and tentacles with suckers to grab food.
• It can reach lengths of up to 7 metres (around 23 feet) and weight as much as 500 kilograms.
• When they’re young, these creatures are almost see-through, giving them the glassy, ghost-like look that’s typical of many deep-sea juveniles. 
• As they grow, their appearance changes drastically, taking on a deep red or purplish colour and developing thick, muscular arms.
• Fully grown, they are believed to be the largest invertebrates on Earth, meaning they have no bones but can still grow to massive sizes.
• What really sets the colossal squid apart, though, are the sharp, swivelling hooks on its tentacles, something no other squid species has. 
• It’s also known for having the largest eyes of any animal ever discovered, believed to help it detect prey and predators in the pitch-black ocean depths.
• Colossal Squid Conservation Status: It is classified as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.

Source: TH