AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

Giant SquidArchiteuthis dux

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Giant Squid profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 53 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

McClain et al. 2015

McClain et al. (2015). Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna. PeerJ.

The page saysThe longest cephalopod. The longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m.
The source saysThe longest cephalopod is A. dux.Note: tagline
The page saysThe longest cephalopod. The longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m.
The source sayswe feel that the longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 mNote: tagline
The page saysA giant squid is the longest cephalopod
The source saysThe longest cephalopod is A. dux.
The page saysThe longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m in total length.
The source saysthe longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 m
The page saysThe longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m in total length.
The source saysGiant Squid Longest cephalopod Total length: 12 mNote: total length, from the size table
The page saysLonger lengths have been reported, but they were not first-hand measurements.
The source saysGiven that the few lengths >12 m were not first-hand measurements and come from reported statements
The page saysModern studies report typical maximum weights of 200 to 280 kg.
The source saysMore typical maximum masses reported in the contemporary literature are 200–280 kg
The page saysOne old estimate of 907 kg is unlikely to be accurate.
The source says“was estimated to mass 2,000 pounds” (907 kg) by Verrill (1879) based on a Grand Banks specimen from 1871 it is unlikely this is an accurate mass
The page saysThe colossal squid, a different species, is the heaviest cephalopod.
The source saysMesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Colossal Squid Heaviest cephalopod and invertebrate
The page saysIts record is 12 m from end to end, the longest scientifically verified giant squid; claims beyond 12 m came from reported statements, not first-hand measurements.
The source sayswe feel that the longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 mNote: faq 1
The page saysIts record is 12 m from end to end, the longest scientifically verified giant squid; claims beyond 12 m came from reported statements, not first-hand measurements.
The source saysGiven that the few lengths >12 m were not first-hand measurements and come from reported statementsNote: faq 1
The page saysRecent literature puts the more typical maximum weight at 200 to 280 kg.
The source saysMore typical maximum masses reported in the contemporary literature are 200–280 kgNote: faq 1
The page saysThe heaviest of all cephalopods is another species, the colossal squid.
The source saysMesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Colossal Squid Heaviest cephalopod and invertebrateNote: faq 1
The page saysThe longest scientifically verified giant squid measured 12 m
The source sayswe feel that the longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 mNote: vibe.reason

Source
02

Kubodera & Mori 2005

Kubodera & Mori (2005). First-ever observations of a live giant squid in the wild. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysDeep water in all the world's oceans, usually near continental and island slopes
The source saysphotographed an Architeuthis attacking bait at 900 m off Ogasawara Islands in the North PacificNote: stats.habitat: deep
The page saysTwo long feeding tentacles that strike and tangle prey
The source saysusing its elongate feeding tentacles to strike and tangle preyNote: stats.superpower
The page saysThen a 2005 paper showed the first wild images of one in its natural environment.
The source saysHere, we show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment.Note: paper is dated 2005 (Proc R Soc B 272)
The page saysA camera and depth recorder photographed a giant squid attacking bait at 900 m off the Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific.
The source saysOur digital camera and depth recorder system recently photographed an Architeuthis attacking bait at 900 m off Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific.
The page saysA severed tentacle confirmed the identification and showed the squid was over 8 m long.
The source saysRecovery of a severed tentacle confirmed both identification and scale of the squid (greater than 8 m).
The page saysThe authors wrote that it appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected.
The source saysArchiteuthis appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected
The page saysA life mostly unseen
The source saysConsiderable efforts to view this elusive creature in its deep-sea habitat have been singularly unsuccessful.Note: heading
The page saysTentacles built to strike
The source saysusing its elongate feeding tentacles to strike and tangle preyNote: heading
The page saysPhotographed at last
The source saysHere, we show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment.Note: heading
The page saysThe photographs suggested it uses them to strike and tangle prey.
The source saysusing its elongate feeding tentacles to strike and tangle preyNote: paper dated 2005 (Proc R Soc B 272)
The page saysKubodera and Mori published the first wild images of one in 2005.
The source saysHere, we show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment.Note: faq 2; paper dated 2005
The page saysTheir camera system photographed it attacking bait at 900 m off Japan's Ogasawara Islands.
The source saysOur digital camera and depth recorder system recently photographed an Architeuthis attacking bait at 900 m off Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific.Note: faq 2; Ogasawara Islands are Japanese (general knowledge)
The page saysA severed tentacle they recovered confirmed what it was and showed it was greater than 8 m long.
The source saysRecovery of a severed tentacle confirmed both identification and scale of the squid (greater than 8 m).Note: faq 2

Source
03

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Architeuthis dux. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysDeep water in all the world's oceans, usually near continental and island slopes
The source saysGiant squid are distributed in all the oceans of the world, usually in association with continental and island slopes.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysDeep-sea fishes and other deep-sea squids
The source saysgiant squid eat deep-sea fishes, such as orange ruffie, and hokie. They also eat other types of deep-sea squidsNote: stats.diet
The page saysGiant squid live in all the world's oceans, usually near continental and island slopes.
The source saysGiant squid are distributed in all the oceans of the world, usually in association with continental and island slopes.
The page saysSpecimens are rare from tropical and high polar latitudes.
The source saysSpecimens are rare from tropical and high polar latitudes.
The page saysA giant squid has eight arms
The source saysThey also have eight arms with suckers in two longitudinal rows.
The page saystwo long feeding tentacles
The source saysThese feeding tentacles are much longer than the rest of the body.
The page saysTheir suckers are cups lined with sharp, finely serrated rings of chitin, a hard material.
The source sayssub-spherical cups lined with sharp, finely serrated rings of chitinNote: chitin gloss is general vocabulary
The page saysThe tongue carries a radula, a ribbon of small, file-like teeth that shreds food before it is swallowed.
The source saysThe tongue is equipped with an organ known as the radula, which is loaded with rows of small, file-like teeth. The radula further shreds the meal before the tongue pushes it down the esophagus
The page saysSome studies of dead giant squid showed they eat deep-sea fishes and other deep-sea squids.
The source saysSome recent studies on dead individuals have shown that giant squid eat deep-sea fishes, such as orange ruffie, and hokie. They also eat other types of deep-sea squids

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Architeuthis dux. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysScientists have not agreed on how long giant squid live. Some works estimate 2 to 3 years. Others estimate over 25.
The source saysThere is yet to be a consensus on the longevity of these large animals, with some works estimating that they may live between 2 to 3 years, while other estimate a longevity of over 25 years
The page saysScientists have not agreed on how long giant squid live.
The source saysThere is yet to be a consensus on the longevity of these large animals
The page saysThe AnAge longevity database says there is no consensus, with some estimates of 2 to 3 years and others of over 25 years.
The source saysThere is yet to be a consensus on the longevity of these large animals, with some works estimating that they may live between 2 to 3 years, while other estimate a longevity of over 25 yearsNote: faq 4

Source
05

Martins & Perez 2009

Martins & Perez (2009). A new record of giant squid Architeuthis sp. (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) in Brazilian waters. Zoologia (Curitiba).

The page saysHistorically, most information came from stranded animals, dead or dying ones found floating at the surface, and the stomachs of sperm whales, sharks and predatory ocean fish.
The source saysMost of the information available on the group historically derives from stranded specimens, dead or dying individuals found floating at sea surface and sperm whales
The page saysSperm whales and other toothed whales are known or likely predators.
The source sayssperm whales and other oceanic odontocetes (PINEDO et al. 2002), the actual and potential predators of Architeuthis
The page saysa mature female found dead, floating over 2,400 m of water, had a mantle 116 cm long.
The source saysA carcass of a giant squid Architeuthis sp. was found afloat off Southern Brazil (28°05'S, 45°35'W) on 29 August 1999. The specimen was a mature female of 116 cm mantle length
The page saysa mature female found dead, floating over 2,400 m of water, had a mantle 116 cm long.
The source saysfound dead on 29 August 1999, by the crew of the Brazilian long-liner Macedo V floating over 2,400 m deep waters
The page saysThree sperm cords were partly embedded in the skin of one arm.
The source saysThree sperm cords were clearly noticed partially embedded in the skin
The page saysThree sperm cords were partly embedded in the skin of one arm.
The source saysImplanted spermatangia were found laterally in the left ventral arm.
The page saysSperm whales and other toothed whales are called the actual and potential predators of giant squid in a study of one found floating off southern Brazil.
The source sayssperm whales and other oceanic odontocetes (PINEDO et al. 2002), the actual and potential predators of Architeuthis
The page saysThat study adds that sperm whale stomachs are one of the places scientists have historically learned about the group.
The source saysMost of the information available on the group historically derives from stranded specimens, dead or dying individuals found floating at sea surface and sperm whales
The page saysHistorically, most information came from stranded animals, dead or dying ones found floating at the surface, and the stomachs of sperm whales, sharks and predatory ocean fish.
The source saysand sharks and oceanic predatory bony fish stomach contents
The page saysOff southern Brazil in 1999
The source saysA carcass of a giant squid Architeuthis sp. was found afloat off Southern Brazil (28°05'S, 45°35'W) on 29 August 1999.

Source
06

Wada et al. 2015

Wada et al. (2015). First records of small-sized young giant squid Architeuthis dux from the coasts of Kyushu Island and the south-western Sea of Japan. Marine Biodiversity Records.

The page saysSmall young giant squid have been caught in or near Japanese coastal waters.
The source saysThree individuals of small, young giant squid Architeuthis dux were caught in or near Japanese coastal waters during April–June 2013.
The page saysOne had a mantle 140.8 mm long and weighed 44.81 g.
The source saysa young individual of 140.8 mm dorsal mantle length with a total weight of 44.81 g

Source
07

Allcock & Barratt 2014

Allcock & Barratt (2014). Architeuthis dux. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T163265A991505.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.