Details
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
Colossal squid is a gigantic deep-sea squid of the Southern Ocean and one of the heaviest cephalopods. Few complete adults are known, so stomach contents of sperm whales and fishery captures inform research.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits cold open ocean and deep waters around Antarctica, likely shifting depth with age. Main habitat types in this guide are ocean, polar.
Typical length 1000-1400 cm, weight 275 kg-500 kg. It has a massive body, thick arms, rotating hooks on the tentacles, and enormous eyes.
It is active in repeated bouts across day and night and usually solitary. It is part of deep-water food webs that include large fish and toothed whales.
It is carnivorous. Fish and squid are likely seized with hooked tentacles.
Reproduction is poorly known, but eggs and young are thought to develop in open ocean waters.
Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. Few complete adults are known, so stomach contents of sperm whales and fishery captures inform research.
