Colossal Squid

Prelims Bits

Context:

A juvenile colossal squid has been filmed alive in its natural environment at a depth of 600 meters in the Southern Ocean for the first time in over a century, marking a significant achievement in marine research.

About the Colossal Squid

What is it?

The colossal squid is the largest invertebrate species known to science, a deep-sea predator that is extremely elusive and rarely seen in its natural surroundings.

• Scientific Name: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
• Class: Cephalopoda (includes octopuses, cuttlefish, and other squids)
• Habitat: Found in the cold, deep waters of the Southern Ocean, especially near Antarctica.

Key Features

• Physical Characteristics:
  • Can reach 14 meters (46 feet) in length and weigh up to 500 kilograms (1100 pounds).
  • Known for having the largest eyes among all animals.
• Biological Traits:
  • Females are larger than males.
  • Tentacles feature sharp, rotating hooks for hunting and self-defense.
• Diet:
  • Preys on large fish like the Patagonian toothfish, as well as other squids.
  • Known to engage in fierce battles with sperm whales.
• Reproduction:
  • Details of its mating habits are not fully known, but it reproduces via internal fertilization.
  • Juveniles are initially transparent and grow darker as they mature.