The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is the largest member of its family Cranchiidae, the cockatoo or glass squids, with its second largest member being Megalocranchia fisheri.
It is sometimes called the Antarctic cranch squid or giant squid (not to be confused with the giant squid in genus Architeuthis) and is believed to be the largest squid species in terms of mass.[3] It is the only recognized member of the genus Mesonychoteuthis and is known from only a small number of specimens.[4] The species is confirmed to reach a mass of at least 495 kilograms (1,091 lb), though the largest specimens—known only from beaks found in sperm whale stomachs—may perhaps weigh as much as 600–700 kilograms (1,300–1,500 lb),[5][6] making it the largest known invertebrate.[3] Maximum total length has been estimated between 10 metres (33 ft) and 14 metres (46 ft) but the former estimate is more likely.[7][8] The colossal squid has the largest eyes of any known creature ever to exist, with an estimated diameter of 27–30 cm (11–12 in)[9] to 40 cm (16 in) for the largest collected specimen.
The species has similar anatomy to other members of its family, although it is the only member of Cranchiidae to display hooks on its arms, suckers and tentacles.[10][11] It is known to inhabit the circumantarctic Southern Ocean.[3] It is presumed to be an ambush predator, and is likely a key prey item of the sperm whale.[12][13]
The first specimens were discovered and described in 1925.[14] In 1981, an adult specimen was discovered; in 2003, a second specimen was collected.[15][16] Captured in 2007, the largest colossal squid weighed 495 kilograms (1,091 lb),[17] and is now on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[18][19]
^Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163170A980001. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T163170A980001.en. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
^Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O (eds.). "Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni G. C. Robson, 1925". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
^ abcCite error: The named reference review was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^[Te Papa] (2019). How big is the colossal squid on display? Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
^[Te Papa] (2019). The beak of the colossal squid. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
^Roper, C.F.E. & P. Jereb (2010). Family Cranchiidae. In: P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper (eds.) Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 2. Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes No. 4, Vol. 2. FAO, Rome. pp. 148–178.
^"Colossal Squid". Oceana. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^"The eyes of the colossal squid". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
^Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference suckershooks was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Nilsson, Dan-Eric; Warrant, Eric J.; Johnsen, Sönke; Hanlon, Roger; Shashar, Nadav (2012). "A Unique Advantage for Giant Eyes in Giant Squid". Current Biology. 22 (8): 683–688. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.02.031. PMID 22425154.
^Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Tapaleao, Vaimoana (11 August 2014). "Is it a boy? Te Papa gets new colossal squid". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
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only on their ends instead of along the entire length. The giant squid and colossalsquid have some of the largest tentacles in the world, with suckers capable...
posterior fins to the tip of the two long tentacles (longer than the colossalsquid at an estimated 9–10 m (30–33 ft), but substantially lighter, as the...
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in the case of the colossalsquid. The common name, glass squid, derives from the transparent nature of most species. Cranchiid squid spend much of their...
smaller mantle than the colossal squid, it may exceed the colossalsquid in overall length including tentacles. One giant squid specimen that washed ashore...
scientifically accepted creatures, such as whales and types of giant and colossalsquid. Sea monster accounts are found in virtually all cultures that have...
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in size, from 10 μm (0.0004 in) Myxozoans to the 9–10 m (30–33 ft) colossalsquid. Some so-called invertebrates, such as the Tunicata and Cephalochordata...
suckers) more accurately describes the ColossalSquid. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown includes the body of a giant squid kept in storage at the Smithsonian...
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of squid, fish, and crustaceans. In turn, toothfish constitute a small part of the diets of sperm whales, southern elephant seals, and colossalsquid. As...
purseweb spiders, and some crustaceans; cephalopod molluscs such as the colossalsquid; and starfish such as Leptasterias tenera. Phrynus longipes#Predation...
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