---
title: "What the sources say about the Giant Squid | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "53 claims from the Giant Squid profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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# What the sources say about the Giant Squid (*Architeuthis dux*)

> 53 claims from the Giant Squid profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Giant Squid](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/giant-squid/)

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

https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.715

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The longest cephalopod. The longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m. | The longest cephalopod is A. dux. (note: tagline) |
| The longest cephalopod. The longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m. | we feel that the longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 m (note: tagline) |
| A giant squid is the longest cephalopod | The longest cephalopod is A. dux. |
| The longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m in total length. | the longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 m |
| The longest one scientifically verified measured 12 m in total length. | Giant Squid Longest cephalopod Total length: 12 m (note: total length, from the size table) |
| Longer lengths have been reported, but they were not first-hand measurements. | Given that the few lengths >12 m were not first-hand measurements and come from reported statements |
| Modern studies report typical maximum weights of 200 to 280 kg. | More typical maximum masses reported in the contemporary literature are 200–280 kg |
| One old estimate of 907 kg is unlikely to be accurate. | “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 colossal squid, a different species, is the heaviest cephalopod. | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Colossal Squid Heaviest cephalopod and invertebrate |
| Its 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. | we feel that the longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 m (note: faq 1) |
| Its 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. | Given that the few lengths >12 m were not first-hand measurements and come from reported statements (note: faq 1) |
| Recent literature puts the more typical maximum weight at 200 to 280 kg. | More typical maximum masses reported in the contemporary literature are 200–280 kg (note: faq 1) |
| The heaviest of all cephalopods is another species, the colossal squid. | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Colossal Squid Heaviest cephalopod and invertebrate (note: faq 1) |
| The longest scientifically verified giant squid measured 12 m | we feel that the longest scientifically verified giant squid is 12 m (note: vibe.reason) |

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

https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3158

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Deep water in all the world's oceans, usually near continental and island slopes | photographed an Architeuthis attacking bait at 900 m off Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific (note: stats.habitat: deep) |
| Two long feeding tentacles that strike and tangle prey | using its elongate feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey (note: stats.superpower) |
| Then a 2005 paper showed the first wild images of one in its natural environment. | Here, we show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment. (note: paper is dated 2005 (Proc R Soc B 272)) |
| A camera and depth recorder photographed a giant squid attacking bait at 900 m off the Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific. | Our digital camera and depth recorder system recently photographed an Architeuthis attacking bait at 900 m off Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific. |
| A severed tentacle confirmed the identification and showed the squid was over 8 m long. | Recovery of a severed tentacle confirmed both identification and scale of the squid (greater than 8 m). |
| The authors wrote that it appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected. | Architeuthis appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected |
| A life mostly unseen | Considerable efforts to view this elusive creature in its deep-sea habitat have been singularly unsuccessful. (note: heading) |
| Tentacles built to strike | using its elongate feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey (note: heading) |
| Photographed at last | Here, we show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment. (note: heading) |
| The photographs suggested it uses them to strike and tangle prey. | using its elongate feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey (note: paper dated 2005 (Proc R Soc B 272)) |
| Kubodera and Mori published the first wild images of one in 2005. | Here, we show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment. (note: faq 2; paper dated 2005) |
| Their camera system photographed it attacking bait at 900 m off Japan's Ogasawara Islands. | Our 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)) |
| A severed tentacle they recovered confirmed what it was and showed it was greater than 8 m long. | Recovery of a severed tentacle confirmed both identification and scale of the squid (greater than 8 m). (note: faq 2) |

## Architeuthis dux. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Architeuthis_dux/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Deep water in all the world's oceans, usually near continental and island slopes | Giant squid are distributed in all the oceans of the world, usually in association with continental and island slopes. (note: stats.habitat) |
| Deep-sea fishes and other deep-sea squids | giant squid eat deep-sea fishes, such as orange ruffie, and hokie. They also eat other types of deep-sea squids (note: stats.diet) |
| Giant squid live in all the world's oceans, usually near continental and island slopes. | Giant squid are distributed in all the oceans of the world, usually in association with continental and island slopes. |
| Specimens are rare from tropical and high polar latitudes. | Specimens are rare from tropical and high polar latitudes. |
| A giant squid has eight arms | They also have eight arms with suckers in two longitudinal rows. |
| two long feeding tentacles | These feeding tentacles are much longer than the rest of the body. |
| Their suckers are cups lined with sharp, finely serrated rings of chitin, a hard material. | sub-spherical cups lined with sharp, finely serrated rings of chitin (note: chitin gloss is general vocabulary) |
| The tongue carries a radula, a ribbon of small, file-like teeth that shreds food before it is swallowed. | The 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 |
| Some studies of dead giant squid showed they eat deep-sea fishes and other deep-sea squids. | Some 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 |

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

https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Architeuthis_dux

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Scientists have not agreed on how long giant squid live. Some works estimate 2 to 3 years. Others estimate over 25. | There 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 |
| Scientists have not agreed on how long giant squid live. | There is yet to be a consensus on the longevity of these large animals |
| The AnAge longevity database says there is no consensus, with some estimates of 2 to 3 years and others of over 25 years. | There 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 (note: faq 4) |

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

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-46702009005000012

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Historically, 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. | Most of the information available on the group historically derives from stranded specimens, dead or dying individuals found floating at sea surface and sperm whales |
| Sperm whales and other toothed whales are known or likely predators. | sperm whales and other oceanic odontocetes (PINEDO et al. 2002), the actual and potential predators of Architeuthis |
| a mature female found dead, floating over 2,400 m of water, had a mantle 116 cm long. | A 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 |
| a mature female found dead, floating over 2,400 m of water, had a mantle 116 cm long. | found dead on 29 August 1999, by the crew of the Brazilian long-liner Macedo V floating over 2,400 m deep waters |
| Three sperm cords were partly embedded in the skin of one arm. | Three sperm cords were clearly noticed partially embedded in the skin |
| Three sperm cords were partly embedded in the skin of one arm. | Implanted spermatangia were found laterally in the left ventral arm. |
| Sperm 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. | sperm whales and other oceanic odontocetes (PINEDO et al. 2002), the actual and potential predators of Architeuthis |
| That study adds that sperm whale stomachs are one of the places scientists have historically learned about the group. | Most of the information available on the group historically derives from stranded specimens, dead or dying individuals found floating at sea surface and sperm whales |
| Historically, 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. | and sharks and oceanic predatory bony fish stomach contents |
| Off southern Brazil in 1999 | A carcass of a giant squid Architeuthis sp. was found afloat off Southern Brazil (28°05'S, 45°35'W) on 29 August 1999. |

## 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.

https://doi.org/10.1017/s175526721500127x

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

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

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2014-1.rlts.t163265a991505.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). (note: stats.conservationStatus) |
| The IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern. | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). |