Giant squid

Architeuthis dux

The giant squid is a rarely seen deep-ocean predator with a long mantle and two exceptionally long feeding tentacles. It lives far below the surface and is best known from stranded specimens and deep-sea observations.

Not a fish · an aquatic neighbor

Water

Saltwater

Deep pelagic ocean waters, often hundreds to more than a thousand meters below the surface.

Temperature

Range not established

A dependable species-specific wild temperature range was not found.

Size

Verified specimens reach about 8.6 m (28 ft) total length; larger estimates exist

About as long as a city bus

Lifespan

Not established in the wild; estimates are uncertain because living adults are rarely observed.

Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.

01 · Signature adaptation

What does it do?

It is a deep-water hunter that probably uses its large eyes to detect prey and predators. Sperm whales are among its major known predators, and its tentacles carry toothed suckers for gripping slippery prey.

Its superpowerIts enormous eyes help it detect faint movement and bioluminescent flashes in dark water.

02 · Home coordinates

Where does it live?

Deep ocean waters worldwide, with records from many major ocean basins.

Regions: Atlantic Ocean · Pacific Ocean · Indian Ocean · Southern Ocean

03 · The menu

What does it eat?

It grabs prey with suckers and hooks on its feeding tentacles and pulls food toward a sharp beak.

Carnivore: fish, other squid, deep-sea crustaceans.

04 · Remember this

Two wow facts

Huge eyes

Its eyes can be about the size of dinner plates, among the largest eyes known in the animal kingdom.

Sources [2] [3]

One recognized species

DNA work on a nearly complete specimen helped support the conclusion that Architeuthis dux is the giant squid species.

Sources [1]