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Colossal squid

January 31, 2023

Not to be confused with giant squid.

The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is part of the family Cranchiidae.[3] It is sometimes called the Antarctic squid or giant cranch squid and is believed to be the largest squid species in terms of mass.[4] It is the only recognized member of the genus Mesonychoteuthis and is known from only a small number of specimens.[5] 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),[6][7] making it the largest known invertebrate.[4] Maximum total length has been estimated at 9–10 metres (30–33 ft).[8] The colossal squid has the largest eyes of any known creature ever to exist, with an estimated diameter of 30–40 cm (12–16 in).[9]

Colossal squid
Depiction with an inflated mantle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Superorder: Decapodiformes
Order: Oegopsida
Family: Cranchiidae
Subfamily: Taoniinae
Genus: Mesonychoteuthis
Robson, 1925
Species:
M. hamiltoni
Binomial name
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
Robson, 1925[2]
Global range of M. hamiltoni

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 and tentacles.[10][11] It is known to inhabit the circumantarctic Southern Ocean.[4] Although little is known about the behaviour, it is known to use bioluminescence to attract prey.[12] It is presumed to be an ambush predator, and is a major prey of the sperm whale.[13][14]

The first specimens were discovered and described in 1925.[15] In 1981, an adult specimen was discovered, and in 2003 a second specimen was collected.[16][17] Captured in 2007, the largest colossal squid weighed 495 kilograms (1,091 lb),[18] and is now on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[19][20]

Morphology

The colossal squid shares features common to all squids: a mantle for locomotion, one pair of gills, and certain external characteristics like eight arms and two tentacles, a head, and two fins.[10] In general, it is safe to describe the morphology and anatomy of the colossal squid the same way one would describe any other squid.[10] However, there are certain morphological / anatomical characteristics that separate the colossal squid from other squids in its family: The colossal squid is the only squid in its family with hooks, either swivelling or three-pointed, equipped on its arms and tentacles.[11] There are squids in other families that also have hooks, but no other squid in the family Cranchiidae.[10]

 
Size comparison with a human

Unlike most squid species, the colossal squid exhibits abyssal gigantism; it is the heaviest living invertebrate species, reaching weights up to 495 kg (1,091 lb).[4] For comparison, squids typically have a mantle length of about 30 cm (12 in) and weigh about 100–200 g (3+1⁄2–7 oz).[10]

The giant squid also exhibits deep-sea gigantism but the colossal squid is heavier.[4] However, giant squids are usually longer: up to 13m, compared with up to 10m for colossal squid.

It is unclear what the maximum weight for colossal squids is, as analysis of squid beaks found inside sperm whales' stomachs has demonstrated that it is likely that colossal squids much heavier exist, up to 700 kg or 1,500 lb.[6][7]

The colossal squid also has the largest eyes documented in the animal kingdom, with an estimated diametre of 30–40 cm (12–16 in).[21][22]

Distribution and habitat

The squid's known range extends thousands of kilometres north of Antarctica to southern South America, southern South Africa, and the southern tip of New Zealand, making it primarily an inhabitant of the entire circumantarctic Southern Ocean.[4] Colossal squid are also sighted often near Cooperation Sea and less near Ross Sea because of its predator and competitor, the Antarctic toothfish.[23] The region between the Weddell Sea and the western Kerguelen archipelago has been deemed a “hotspot” based on characteristics of the habitat.[24] The squid's vertical distribution appears to correlate directly with age. Young squid are found between 0–500 m (0–1,640 ft), adolescent squid are found 500–2,000 m (1,600–6,600 ft) and adult squid are found primarily within the mesopelagic and bathypelagic regions of the open ocean.[4]

Behavior

Feeding

 
The beak of a colossal squid

Little is known about their behaviour, but it is believed to feed on prey such as chaetognatha, large fish such as the Patagonian toothfish, and smaller squid in the deep ocean using bioluminescence.[12] A recent study by Remeslo, Yakushev and Laptikhovsky revealed that Antarctic toothfish make up a significant part of the colossal squid's diet; of the 8,000 toothfish brought aboard trawlers between 2011 and 2014, seventy-one showed clear signs of attack by colossal squid.[25] A study in Prydz Bay region of Antarctica found squid remains in a female colossal squid's stomach, suggesting the possibility of cannibalism within this species.[26] Studies measuring the δ15N content of the chitinous beaks of cephalopods to determine trophic ecology levels have demonstrated that the colossal squid is a top predator that is positively correlated with its increased size.[27] This new confirmation of the colossal squid's trophic level suggests that it likely preys on large fishes and smaller squids, according to its size, and that its predators include sperm whales and sleeper sharks.[27]

Metabolism

The colossal squid is thought to have a very slow metabolic rate, needing only around 30 grams (1 oz) of prey daily for an adult with a mass of 500 kilograms (1,100 lb).[28] Estimates of its energy requirements suggest it is a slow-moving ambush predator, using its large eyes primarily for prey-detection rather than engaging in active hunting.[28][14]

Predation

Many sperm whales have scars on their backs, believed to be caused by the hooks of colossal squid. Colossal squid are a major prey item for sperm whales in the Antarctic; 14% of the squid beaks found in the stomachs of these sperm whales are those of the colossal squid, which indicates that colossal squid make up 77% of the biomass consumed by these whales.[29] Many other animals also feed on colossal squid, including beaked whales (such as the southern bottlenose whale), pilot whales, southern elephant seals, Patagonian toothfish,[30] southern sleeper sharks (Somniosus antarcticus), Antarctic toothfish, and albatrosses (e.g., the wandering and sooty albatrosses).[4] However, beaks from mature adults have only been recovered from large predators (i.e. sperm whales and southern sleeper sharks), while the other predators only eat juveniles or young adults.[31]

Reproduction

Little is known about the colossal squid's reproductive cycle although the colossal squid does have two distinct sexes. Many species of squid, however, develop sex-specific organs as they age and develop.[32] The adult female colossal squid has been discovered in much shallower waters which likely implies that females spawn in shallower waters than their normal depth.[4] Additionally, the colossal squid has a high possible fecundity reaching over 4.2 million oocytes which is quite unique compared to other squids in such cold waters.[32] Colossal squid oocytes have been observed at sizes ranging from as large as 3.2x2.1 mm to as small as 1.4x0.5 mm. Sampling of colossal squid ovaries show an average of 2175 eggs per gram.[12] Young squid are thought to spawn near the summer time at surface temperatures of −0.9–0 °C (30.4–32.0 °F).[23]

Vision

For pelagic organisms of similar weight to the colossal squid, such as the swordfish, the average eye diameter required for visual detection is 10 cm, but colossal squid's are as large as 27 cm.[33][34] The allowed increase in visual detection strategies, including reduced diffraction blurring and greater contrast distinction, must be extremely beneficial to the colossal squid to justify the large energetic expenses to grow, move, camouflage, and maintain these eyes.[33] The colossal squid's increased pupil size has been mathematically proven to overcome the visual complications of the pelagic zone (the combination of downwelling daylight, bioluminescence, and light scattering with increasing distance), especially by monitoring larger volumes of water at once and by detecting long-range changes in plankton bioluminescence via the physical disruption of large moving objects (e.g., sperm whales).[33]

The colossal squid's eyes glow in the dark via long rectangularly shaped light-producing photophores located next to the lens on the front of both eyeballs.[35] Symbiotic bacteria reside within these photophores and luminesce through chemical reaction.[36]

It is hypothesized that the colossal squid's eyes can detect predator movement beyond 120 m, which is the upper limit of the sperm whale's sonar range.[33]

Hearing

Although squid cannot hear sound, they can detect the movement of sound waves via organs called statocysts (similar to the human cochlea).[37] Squid statocysts likely respond to low frequency sounds less than 500 Hz, similar to pelagic fish.[37] Colossal squid are essentially deaf to high frequencies (like whale sonar), so they rely largely on visual detection mechanisms to avoid predation.[33][38]

Taxonomy and history

Main article: List of colossal squid specimens and sightings

The colossal squid, species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, was discovered in 1925.[15] This species belongs to the class Cephalopoda and family Cranchiidae.[3]

Most of the time, full colossal squid specimens are not collected; as of 2015, only 12 complete colossal squids had ever been recorded with only half of these being full adults.[5] Commonly, beak remnants of the colossal squid are collected; 55 beaks of colossal squids have been recorded in total.[5] Less commonly (four times), a fin, mantle, arm or tentacle of a colossal squid was collected.[5]

Notable discoveries

First specimens

The species was first discovered in the form of two arm crowns found in the stomach of a sperm whale in the winter of 1924–1925.[15] This species, then named Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni after E. Hamilton who made the initial discovery, was formally described by Guy Coburn Robson in 1925.[15]

Entire specimens

In 1981, a Soviet Russian trawler in the Ross Sea, off the coast of Antarctica, caught a large squid with a total length of over 4 m (13 ft), which was later identified as an immature female of M. hamiltoni.[16] In 2003, a complete specimen of a subadult female was found near the surface with a total length of 6 m (20 ft) and a mantle length of 2.5 m (8 feet 3 inches).[17] In 2005, the first full living specimen was captured at a depth of 1,625 m (5,331 ft) while taking a toothfish from a longline off South Georgia Island.[39] Although the mantle was not brought aboard, its length was estimated at over 2.5 m (8 feet 3 inches), and the tentacles measured 2.3 metres (7 feet 7 inches).[39] The animal is thought to have weighed between 150 and 200 kg (330 and 440 lb).[39]

Largest known specimen

 
This specimen, caught in early 2007, is the largest cephalopod ever recorded. Here it is shown alive during capture, with the delicate red skin still intact and the mantle characteristically inflated.
See also: Cephalopod size

The largest recorded specimen was a female, which are thought to be larger than males, captured in February 2007 by a New Zealand fishing boat in the Ross Sea off of Antarctica.[22] The squid was close to dead when it was captured and subsequently was taken back to New Zealand for scientific study.[40] The specimen was initially estimated to measure about 10 metres in total length and weigh about 450 kg.

Defrosting and dissection, April–May 2008

Thawing and dissection of the specimen took place at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[41] AUT biologist Steve O'Shea, Tsunemi Kubodera, and AUT biologist Kat Bolstad were invited to the museum to aid in the process.[41] Media reports suggested scientists at the museum were considering using a giant microwave to defrost the squid because thawing it at room temperature would take several days and it would likely begin to decompose on the outside while the core remained frozen.[42] However, they later opted for the more conventional approach of thawing the specimen in a bath of salt water.[43] After thawing, it was found that the specimen was 495 kg with a mantle length of 2.5 m and total length of only 4.2 m, probably because the tentacles shrank once the squid was dead.[18]

Parts of the specimen have been examined:

  • The beak is considerably smaller than some found in the stomachs of sperm whales,[44][45] suggesting other colossal squid are much larger than this one.[44][45]
  • The eye is 27 cm (10+1⁄2 in) wide, with a lens 12 cm (4+1⁄2 in) across. This is the largest eye of any known animal.[21] These measurements are of the partly collapsed specimen; alive, the eye was probably 30[22] to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) across.[46]
  • Inspection of the specimen with an endoscope revealed ovaries containing thousands of eggs.[22]
Exhibition
 
The specimen on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa began displaying this specimen from 13 December 2008. The exhibition was closed between 2018 and 2019, but is currently open again for public viewing at Te Papa.[19]

Second specimen

In August 2014, Te Papa received a second colossal squid, captured in early 2014.[20] The specimen was also female, measuring 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) long and weighing approximately 350 kg (770 lb).[47]

Conservation status

The colossal squid has been assessed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List.[1] Furthermore, colossal squid are not targeted by fishermen; rather, they are only caught when they attempt to feed on fish caught on hooks.[48] Additionally, due to their habitat, interactions between humans and colossal squid are considered rare.[49]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925". ITIS.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rosa, Rui; Lopes, Vanessa M.; Guerreiro, Miguel; Bolstad, Kathrin & Xavier, José C. (30 March 2017). "Biology and ecology of the world's largest invertebrate, the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni): a short review" (PDF). Polar Biology. 40 (9): 1871–1883. doi:10.1007/s00300-017-2104-5. S2CID 15480545.
  5. ^ a b c d McClain, Craig R.; Balk, Meghan A.; Benfield, Mark C.; Branch, Trevor A.; Chen, Catherine; Cosgrove, James; Dove, Alistair D.M.; Gaskins, Lindsay C.; Helm, Rebecca R.; Hochberg, Frederick G.; Lee, Frank B.; Marshall, Andrea; McMurray, Steven E.; Schanche, Caroline; Stone, Shane N. & Thaler, Andrew D. (2015). "Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna". PeerJ. 3: e715. doi:10.7717/peerj.715. PMC 4304853. PMID 25649000.
  6. ^ a b [Te Papa] (2019). How big is the colossal squid on display? Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
  7. ^ a b [Te Papa] (2019). The beak of the colossal squid. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "The eyes of the colossal squid". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e Jereb, P. & Roper, C.F.E. (2010). Cephalopods of the World. Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. Vol. 2. United Nations. pp. 6–10.
  11. ^ a b "Hooks and suckers". Te Papa (blog). 30 April 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2011 – via Blog.tepapa.govt.nz.
  12. ^ a b c Remeslo, Alexander; Yukhov, Valentin; Bolstad, Kathrin & Laptikhovsky, Vladimir (May 2019). "Distribution and biology of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni: New data from depredation in toothfish fisheries and sperm whale stomach contents". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 147: 121–127. Bibcode:2019DSRI..147..121R. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2019.04.008. S2CID 146043830.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ a b Bourton, Jody (7 May 2010). "Huge 'monster squid' not fearsome". BBC News. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d Robson, G.C. (1925). "On Mesonychoteuthis, a new genus of oegopsid, Cephalopoda". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 9 (16): 272–277. doi:10.1080/00222932508633309.
  16. ^ a b Ellis, R. 1998. The Search for the Giant Squid. The Lyons Press.
  17. ^ a b Griggs, Kim (2 April 2003). "Super squid surfaces in Antarctic". BBC News. Wellington. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  18. ^ a b . 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  19. ^ a b "The Colossal Squid". Te Papa. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  20. ^ a b 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.
  21. ^ a b Ballance, Alison; Meduna, Veronika (16 September 2014). "Colossal squid to give up its secrets". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  22. ^ a b c d Black, Richard (30 April 2008). "Colossal Squid's big eye revealed". BBC News. BBC.
  23. ^ a b Remeslo, Alexander; Yukhov, Valentin; Bolstad, Kathrin & Laptikhovsky, Vladimir (1 May 2019). "Distribution and biology of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni: New data from depredation in toothfish fisheries and sperm whale stomach contents". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 147: 121–127. Bibcode:2019DSRI..147..121R. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2019.04.008. S2CID 146043830.
  24. ^ Xavier, José C.; Raymond, Ben; Jones, Daniel C. & Griffiths, Huw (19 October 2015). "Biogeography of Cephalopods in the Southern Ocean Using Habitat Suitability Prediction Models" (PDF). Ecosystems. 19 (2): 220–247. doi:10.1007/s10021-015-9926-1. S2CID 14435325.
  25. ^ Sarchet, Penny (11 June 2015). "Colossal squid vs huge toothfish – clash of the deep-sea titans". New Scientist. doi:10.1080/00222933.2015.1040477. S2CID 82152308. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  26. ^ Lu, C.C. & Williams, R. (June 1994). "Contribution to the biology of squid in the Prydz Bay region, Antarctica". Antarctic Science. 6 (2): 223–229. Bibcode:1994AntSc...6..223L. doi:10.1017/s0954102094000349. S2CID 130139281.
  27. ^ a b Cherel, Yves; Hobson, Keith A (7 August 2005). "Stable isotopes, beaks and predators: a new tool to study the trophic ecology of cephalopods, including giant and colossal squids". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 272 (1572): 1601–1607. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3115. PMC 1559839. PMID 16048776.
  28. ^ a b Rosa, Rui & Seibel, Brad A. (2010). "Slow pace of life of the Antarctic colossal squid". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 90 (7): 1375–1378. doi:10.1017/S0025315409991494.
  29. ^ Clarke, M.R. (1980). "Cephalopoda in the diet of sperm whales of the southern hemisphere and their bearing on sperm whale biology". Discovery Reports. 37: 1–324.
  30. ^ Remeslo, A. V.; Yakushev, M. R. & Laptikhovsky, V. (10 November 2015). "Alien vs. Predator: interactions between the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) and the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni)". Journal of Natural History. 49 (41–42): 2483–2491. doi:10.1080/00222933.2015.1040477. S2CID 82152308.
  31. ^ Cherel, Yves & Duhamel, Guy (2004). "Antarctic jaws: cephalopod prey of sharks in Kerguelen waters". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 51 (1): 17–31. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2003.09.009.
  32. ^ a b Jereb, P & Roper, C.F.E. (2010). Cephalopods of the world : an annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 978-92-5-106720-8.
  33. ^ a b c d e Nilsson, Dan-Eric; Warrant, Eric J.; Johnsen, Sönke; Hanlon, Roger & Shashar, Nadav (24 April 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. S2CID 6119783.
  34. ^ Nilsson, Dan-E; Warrant, Eric J.; Johnsen, Sönke; Hanlon, Roger T. & Shashar, Nadav (8 September 2013). "The giant eyes of giant squid are indeed unexpectedly large, but not if used for spotting sperm whales". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13 (1): 187. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-187. PMC 3854791. PMID 24010674.
  35. ^ Herring, Peter J.; Dilly, P. N. & Cope, Celia (September 2002). "The photophores of the squid family Cranchiidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida)". Journal of Zoology. 258 (1): 73–90. doi:10.1017/S095283690200122X.
  36. ^ "The eyes of the colossal squid". 29 December 2016.
  37. ^ a b "Scientists Find that Squid Can Detect Sounds". www.whoi.edu/. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  38. ^ Partridge, Julian C. (24 April 2012). "Sensory Ecology: Giant Eyes for Giant Predators?". Current Biology. 22 (8): R268–R270. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.03.021. PMID 22537628. S2CID 16685449.
  39. ^ a b c . South Georgia Island. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  40. ^ "NZ fishermen land colossal squid". BBC News. 22 February 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  41. ^ a b Te Papa's Specimen: The Thawing and Examination 25 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved on 30 September 2011.
  42. ^ Marks, Kathy (23 March 2007). "NZ's colossal squid to be microwaved". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  43. ^ Black, Richard (28 April 2008). "Colossal squid comes out of ice". BBC News. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  44. ^ a b Ballance, Alison (14 October 2014). "Colossal Squid Revealed". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  45. ^ a b "Massive squid may be just a babe". The Star. South Africa.[dead link]
  46. ^ "World's biggest squid reveals 'beach ball' eyes". www.terradaily.com. Wellington: AFP. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  47. ^ "Scientists Found Only The Second Intact Colossal Squid — Here's What It Looks Like". 16 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  48. ^ "Colossal Squid". Oceana. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  49. ^ "Colossal Squid ~ MarineBio Conservation Society". Marine Bio. 18 May 2017.

Further reading

  • Aldridge, A.E. (2009). "Can beak shape help to research the life history of squid?". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 43 (5): 1061–1067. doi:10.1080/00288330.2009.9626529. S2CID 85883651.
  • (in Russian) Klumov, S.K. & V.L. Yukhov 1975. Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925 (Cephalopoda, Oegopsida). Antarktika Doklady Komission 14: 159–189. [English translation: TT 81–59176, Al Ahram Center for Scientific Translations]
  • McSweeny, E.S. (1970). "Description of the juvenile form of the Antarctic squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson". Malacologia. 10: 323–332.
  • Rodhouse, P.G.; Clarke, M.R. (1985). "Growth and distribution of young Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson (Mollusca: Cephalopoda): an Antarctic squid". Vie Milieu. 35 (3–4): 223–230.

External Links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni.
  • . Archived from the original on 2005.
  • Tree of Life web project: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
  • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa(Te Papa) Colossal Squid Images and Video
  • Tonmo.com: Giant Squid and Colossal Squid Fact Sheet
  • New Zealand Herald: Fishermen haul in world's biggest squid
  • USA Today: Colossal Squid Caught in Antarctic Waters
  • BBC: Super squid surfaces in Antarctic
  • MarineBio: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni

January 31, 2023
colossal, squid, confused, with, giant, squid, colossal, squid, mesonychoteuthis, hamiltoni, part, family, cranchiidae, sometimes, called, antarctic, squid, giant, cranch, squid, believed, largest, squid, species, terms, mass, only, recognized, member, genus, . Not to be confused with giant squid The colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni is part of the family Cranchiidae 3 It is sometimes called the Antarctic squid or giant cranch squid and is believed to be the largest squid species in terms of mass 4 It is the only recognized member of the genus Mesonychoteuthis and is known from only a small number of specimens 5 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 6 7 making it the largest known invertebrate 4 Maximum total length has been estimated at 9 10 metres 30 33 ft 8 The colossal squid has the largest eyes of any known creature ever to exist with an estimated diameter of 30 40 cm 12 16 in 9 Colossal squidDepiction with an inflated mantleConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum MolluscaClass CephalopodaSuperorder DecapodiformesOrder OegopsidaFamily CranchiidaeSubfamily TaoniinaeGenus MesonychoteuthisRobson 1925Species M hamiltoniBinomial nameMesonychoteuthis hamiltoniRobson 1925 2 Global range of M hamiltoniThe species has similar anatomy to other members of its family although it is the only member of Cranchiidae to display hooks on its arms and tentacles 10 11 It is known to inhabit the circumantarctic Southern Ocean 4 Although little is known about the behaviour it is known to use bioluminescence to attract prey 12 It is presumed to be an ambush predator and is a major prey of the sperm whale 13 14 The first specimens were discovered and described in 1925 15 In 1981 an adult specimen was discovered and in 2003 a second specimen was collected 16 17 Captured in 2007 the largest colossal squid weighed 495 kilograms 1 091 lb 18 and is now on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 19 20 Contents 1 Morphology 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Behavior 3 1 Feeding 3 2 Metabolism 3 3 Predation 3 4 Reproduction 3 5 Vision 3 6 Hearing 4 Taxonomy and history 4 1 Notable discoveries 4 1 1 First specimens 4 1 2 Entire specimens 4 1 3 Largest known specimen 4 1 3 1 Defrosting and dissection April May 2008 4 1 3 2 Exhibition 4 1 4 Second specimen 5 Conservation status 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External LinksMorphology EditThe colossal squid shares features common to all squids a mantle for locomotion one pair of gills and certain external characteristics like eight arms and two tentacles a head and two fins 10 In general it is safe to describe the morphology and anatomy of the colossal squid the same way one would describe any other squid 10 However there are certain morphological anatomical characteristics that separate the colossal squid from other squids in its family The colossal squid is the only squid in its family with hooks either swivelling or three pointed equipped on its arms and tentacles 11 There are squids in other families that also have hooks but no other squid in the family Cranchiidae 10 Size comparison with a human Unlike most squid species the colossal squid exhibits abyssal gigantism it is the heaviest living invertebrate species reaching weights up to 495 kg 1 091 lb 4 For comparison squids typically have a mantle length of about 30 cm 12 in and weigh about 100 200 g 3 1 2 7 oz 10 The giant squid also exhibits deep sea gigantism but the colossal squid is heavier 4 However giant squids are usually longer up to 13m compared with up to 10m for colossal squid It is unclear what the maximum weight for colossal squids is as analysis of squid beaks found inside sperm whales stomachs has demonstrated that it is likely that colossal squids much heavier exist up to 700 kg or 1 500 lb 6 7 The colossal squid also has the largest eyes documented in the animal kingdom with an estimated diametre of 30 40 cm 12 16 in 21 22 Distribution and habitat EditThe squid s known range extends thousands of kilometres north of Antarctica to southern South America southern South Africa and the southern tip of New Zealand making it primarily an inhabitant of the entire circumantarctic Southern Ocean 4 Colossal squid are also sighted often near Cooperation Sea and less near Ross Sea because of its predator and competitor the Antarctic toothfish 23 The region between the Weddell Sea and the western Kerguelen archipelago has been deemed a hotspot based on characteristics of the habitat 24 The squid s vertical distribution appears to correlate directly with age Young squid are found between 0 500 m 0 1 640 ft adolescent squid are found 500 2 000 m 1 600 6 600 ft and adult squid are found primarily within the mesopelagic and bathypelagic regions of the open ocean 4 Behavior EditFeeding Edit The beak of a colossal squid Little is known about their behaviour but it is believed to feed on prey such as chaetognatha large fish such as the Patagonian toothfish and smaller squid in the deep ocean using bioluminescence 12 A recent study by Remeslo Yakushev and Laptikhovsky revealed that Antarctic toothfish make up a significant part of the colossal squid s diet of the 8 000 toothfish brought aboard trawlers between 2011 and 2014 seventy one showed clear signs of attack by colossal squid 25 A study in Prydz Bay region of Antarctica found squid remains in a female colossal squid s stomach suggesting the possibility of cannibalism within this species 26 Studies measuring the d15N content of the chitinous beaks of cephalopods to determine trophic ecology levels have demonstrated that the colossal squid is a top predator that is positively correlated with its increased size 27 This new confirmation of the colossal squid s trophic level suggests that it likely preys on large fishes and smaller squids according to its size and that its predators include sperm whales and sleeper sharks 27 Metabolism Edit The colossal squid is thought to have a very slow metabolic rate needing only around 30 grams 1 oz of prey daily for an adult with a mass of 500 kilograms 1 100 lb 28 Estimates of its energy requirements suggest it is a slow moving ambush predator using its large eyes primarily for prey detection rather than engaging in active hunting 28 14 Predation Edit Many sperm whales have scars on their backs believed to be caused by the hooks of colossal squid Colossal squid are a major prey item for sperm whales in the Antarctic 14 of the squid beaks found in the stomachs of these sperm whales are those of the colossal squid which indicates that colossal squid make up 77 of the biomass consumed by these whales 29 Many other animals also feed on colossal squid including beaked whales such as the southern bottlenose whale pilot whales southern elephant seals Patagonian toothfish 30 southern sleeper sharks Somniosus antarcticus Antarctic toothfish and albatrosses e g the wandering and sooty albatrosses 4 However beaks from mature adults have only been recovered from large predators i e sperm whales and southern sleeper sharks while the other predators only eat juveniles or young adults 31 Reproduction Edit Little is known about the colossal squid s reproductive cycle although the colossal squid does have two distinct sexes Many species of squid however develop sex specific organs as they age and develop 32 The adult female colossal squid has been discovered in much shallower waters which likely implies that females spawn in shallower waters than their normal depth 4 Additionally the colossal squid has a high possible fecundity reaching over 4 2 million oocytes which is quite unique compared to other squids in such cold waters 32 Colossal squid oocytes have been observed at sizes ranging from as large as 3 2x2 1 mm to as small as 1 4x0 5 mm Sampling of colossal squid ovaries show an average of 2175 eggs per gram 12 Young squid are thought to spawn near the summer time at surface temperatures of 0 9 0 C 30 4 32 0 F 23 Vision Edit For pelagic organisms of similar weight to the colossal squid such as the swordfish the average eye diameter required for visual detection is 10 cm but colossal squid s are as large as 27 cm 33 34 The allowed increase in visual detection strategies including reduced diffraction blurring and greater contrast distinction must be extremely beneficial to the colossal squid to justify the large energetic expenses to grow move camouflage and maintain these eyes 33 The colossal squid s increased pupil size has been mathematically proven to overcome the visual complications of the pelagic zone the combination of downwelling daylight bioluminescence and light scattering with increasing distance especially by monitoring larger volumes of water at once and by detecting long range changes in plankton bioluminescence via the physical disruption of large moving objects e g sperm whales 33 The colossal squid s eyes glow in the dark via long rectangularly shaped light producing photophores located next to the lens on the front of both eyeballs 35 Symbiotic bacteria reside within these photophores and luminesce through chemical reaction 36 It is hypothesized that the colossal squid s eyes can detect predator movement beyond 120 m which is the upper limit of the sperm whale s sonar range 33 Hearing Edit Although squid cannot hear sound they can detect the movement of sound waves via organs called statocysts similar to the human cochlea 37 Squid statocysts likely respond to low frequency sounds less than 500 Hz similar to pelagic fish 37 Colossal squid are essentially deaf to high frequencies like whale sonar so they rely largely on visual detection mechanisms to avoid predation 33 38 Taxonomy and history EditMain article List of colossal squid specimens and sightings The colossal squid species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni was discovered in 1925 15 This species belongs to the class Cephalopoda and family Cranchiidae 3 Most of the time full colossal squid specimens are not collected as of 2015 only 12 complete colossal squids had ever been recorded with only half of these being full adults 5 Commonly beak remnants of the colossal squid are collected 55 beaks of colossal squids have been recorded in total 5 Less commonly four times a fin mantle arm or tentacle of a colossal squid was collected 5 Notable discoveries Edit First specimens Edit The species was first discovered in the form of two arm crowns found in the stomach of a sperm whale in the winter of 1924 1925 15 This species then named Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni after E Hamilton who made the initial discovery was formally described by Guy Coburn Robson in 1925 15 Entire specimens Edit In 1981 a Soviet Russian trawler in the Ross Sea off the coast of Antarctica caught a large squid with a total length of over 4 m 13 ft which was later identified as an immature female of M hamiltoni 16 In 2003 a complete specimen of a subadult female was found near the surface with a total length of 6 m 20 ft and a mantle length of 2 5 m 8 feet 3 inches 17 In 2005 the first full living specimen was captured at a depth of 1 625 m 5 331 ft while taking a toothfish from a longline off South Georgia Island 39 Although the mantle was not brought aboard its length was estimated at over 2 5 m 8 feet 3 inches and the tentacles measured 2 3 metres 7 feet 7 inches 39 The animal is thought to have weighed between 150 and 200 kg 330 and 440 lb 39 Largest known specimen Edit This specimen caught in early 2007 is the largest cephalopod ever recorded Here it is shown alive during capture with the delicate red skin still intact and the mantle characteristically inflated See also Cephalopod sizeThe largest recorded specimen was a female which are thought to be larger than males captured in February 2007 by a New Zealand fishing boat in the Ross Sea off of Antarctica 22 The squid was close to dead when it was captured and subsequently was taken back to New Zealand for scientific study 40 The specimen was initially estimated to measure about 10 metres in total length and weigh about 450 kg Defrosting and dissection April May 2008 Edit Thawing and dissection of the specimen took place at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 41 AUT biologist Steve O Shea Tsunemi Kubodera and AUT biologist Kat Bolstad were invited to the museum to aid in the process 41 Media reports suggested scientists at the museum were considering using a giant microwave to defrost the squid because thawing it at room temperature would take several days and it would likely begin to decompose on the outside while the core remained frozen 42 However they later opted for the more conventional approach of thawing the specimen in a bath of salt water 43 After thawing it was found that the specimen was 495 kg with a mantle length of 2 5 m and total length of only 4 2 m probably because the tentacles shrank once the squid was dead 18 Parts of the specimen have been examined The beak is considerably smaller than some found in the stomachs of sperm whales 44 45 suggesting other colossal squid are much larger than this one 44 45 The eye is 27 cm 10 1 2 in wide with a lens 12 cm 4 1 2 in across This is the largest eye of any known animal 21 These measurements are of the partly collapsed specimen alive the eye was probably 30 22 to 40 cm 12 to 16 in across 46 Inspection of the specimen with an endoscope revealed ovaries containing thousands of eggs 22 Exhibition Edit The specimen on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa began displaying this specimen from 13 December 2008 The exhibition was closed between 2018 and 2019 but is currently open again for public viewing at Te Papa 19 Second specimen Edit In August 2014 Te Papa received a second colossal squid captured in early 2014 20 The specimen was also female measuring 3 5 m 11 ft 6 in long and weighing approximately 350 kg 770 lb 47 Conservation status EditThe colossal squid has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List 1 Furthermore colossal squid are not targeted by fishermen rather they are only caught when they attempt to feed on fish caught on hooks 48 Additionally due to their habitat interactions between humans and colossal squid are considered rare 49 See also EditKraken Giant squidReferences Edit a b 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 a b Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson 1925 ITIS a b c d e f g h i Rosa Rui Lopes Vanessa M Guerreiro Miguel Bolstad Kathrin amp Xavier Jose C 30 March 2017 Biology and ecology of the world s largest invertebrate the colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni a short review PDF Polar Biology 40 9 1871 1883 doi 10 1007 s00300 017 2104 5 S2CID 15480545 a b c d McClain Craig R Balk Meghan A Benfield Mark C Branch Trevor A Chen Catherine Cosgrove James Dove Alistair D M Gaskins Lindsay C Helm Rebecca R Hochberg Frederick G Lee Frank B Marshall Andrea McMurray Steven E Schanche Caroline Stone Shane N amp Thaler Andrew D 2015 Sizing ocean giants patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna PeerJ 3 e715 doi 10 7717 peerj 715 PMC 4304853 PMID 25649000 a b Te Papa 2019 How big is the colossal squid on display Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa a b Te Papa 2019 The beak of the colossal squid Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Roper C F E amp P Jereb 2010 Family Cranchiidae In P Jereb amp 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 The eyes of the colossal squid Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Wellington NZ 29 December 2016 Retrieved 15 September 2022 a b c d e Jereb P amp Roper C F E 2010 Cephalopods of the World Food and Agriculture Organization of the U N Vol 2 United Nations pp 6 10 a b Hooks and suckers Te Papa blog 30 April 2008 Retrieved 30 September 2011 via Blog tepapa govt nz a b c Remeslo Alexander Yukhov Valentin Bolstad Kathrin amp Laptikhovsky Vladimir May 2019 Distribution and biology of the colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni New data from depredation in toothfish fisheries and sperm whale stomach contents Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers 147 121 127 Bibcode 2019DSRI 147 121R doi 10 1016 j dsr 2019 04 008 S2CID 146043830 Nilsson Dan Eric Warrant Eric J Johnsen Sonke 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 a b Bourton Jody 7 May 2010 Huge monster squid not fearsome BBC News Retrieved 2 August 2015 a b c d Robson G C 1925 On Mesonychoteuthis a new genus of oegopsid Cephalopoda Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 16 272 277 doi 10 1080 00222932508633309 a b Ellis R 1998 The Search for the Giant Squid The Lyons Press a b Griggs Kim 2 April 2003 Super squid surfaces in Antarctic BBC News Wellington Retrieved 2 August 2015 a b The Colossal Squid Exhibition The Squid Files How big is the colossal squid 17 December 2008 Archived from the original on 17 December 2008 Retrieved 9 March 2020 a b The Colossal Squid Te Papa 21 December 2015 Retrieved 14 May 2019 a b 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 a b Ballance Alison Meduna Veronika 16 September 2014 Colossal squid to give up its secrets Radio New Zealand Retrieved 2 August 2015 a b c d Black Richard 30 April 2008 Colossal Squid s big eye revealed BBC News BBC a b Remeslo Alexander Yukhov Valentin Bolstad Kathrin amp Laptikhovsky Vladimir 1 May 2019 Distribution and biology of the colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni New data from depredation in toothfish fisheries and sperm whale stomach contents Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers 147 121 127 Bibcode 2019DSRI 147 121R doi 10 1016 j dsr 2019 04 008 S2CID 146043830 Xavier Jose C Raymond Ben Jones Daniel C amp Griffiths Huw 19 October 2015 Biogeography of Cephalopods in the Southern Ocean Using Habitat Suitability Prediction Models PDF Ecosystems 19 2 220 247 doi 10 1007 s10021 015 9926 1 S2CID 14435325 Sarchet Penny 11 June 2015 Colossal squid vs huge toothfish clash of the deep sea titans New Scientist doi 10 1080 00222933 2015 1040477 S2CID 82152308 Retrieved 2 August 2015 Lu C C amp Williams R June 1994 Contribution to the biology of squid in the Prydz Bay region Antarctica Antarctic Science 6 2 223 229 Bibcode 1994AntSc 6 223L doi 10 1017 s0954102094000349 S2CID 130139281 a b Cherel Yves Hobson Keith A 7 August 2005 Stable isotopes beaks and predators a new tool to study the trophic ecology of cephalopods including giant and colossal squids Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 272 1572 1601 1607 doi 10 1098 rspb 2005 3115 PMC 1559839 PMID 16048776 a b Rosa Rui amp Seibel Brad A 2010 Slow pace of life of the Antarctic colossal squid Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 90 7 1375 1378 doi 10 1017 S0025315409991494 Clarke M R 1980 Cephalopoda in the diet of sperm whales of the southern hemisphere and their bearing on sperm whale biology Discovery Reports 37 1 324 Remeslo A V Yakushev M R amp Laptikhovsky V 10 November 2015 Alien vs Predator interactions between the colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni and the Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni Journal of Natural History 49 41 42 2483 2491 doi 10 1080 00222933 2015 1040477 S2CID 82152308 Cherel Yves amp Duhamel Guy 2004 Antarctic jaws cephalopod prey of sharks in Kerguelen waters Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers 51 1 17 31 doi 10 1016 j dsr 2003 09 009 a b Jereb P amp Roper C F E 2010 Cephalopods of the world an annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ISBN 978 92 5 106720 8 a b c d e Nilsson Dan Eric Warrant Eric J Johnsen Sonke Hanlon Roger amp Shashar Nadav 24 April 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 S2CID 6119783 Nilsson Dan E Warrant Eric J Johnsen Sonke Hanlon Roger T amp Shashar Nadav 8 September 2013 The giant eyes of giant squid are indeed unexpectedly large but not if used for spotting sperm whales BMC Evolutionary Biology 13 1 187 doi 10 1186 1471 2148 13 187 PMC 3854791 PMID 24010674 Herring Peter J Dilly P N amp Cope Celia September 2002 The photophores of the squid family Cranchiidae Cephalopoda Oegopsida Journal of Zoology 258 1 73 90 doi 10 1017 S095283690200122X The eyes of the colossal squid 29 December 2016 a b Scientists Find that Squid Can Detect Sounds www whoi edu Retrieved 10 April 2022 Partridge Julian C 24 April 2012 Sensory Ecology Giant Eyes for Giant Predators Current Biology 22 8 R268 R270 doi 10 1016 j cub 2012 03 021 PMID 22537628 S2CID 16685449 a b c Very Rare Giant Squid Caught Alive South Georgia Island Archived from the original on 5 June 2010 Retrieved 2 August 2015 NZ fishermen land colossal squid BBC News 22 February 2007 Retrieved 2 August 2015 a b Te Papa s Specimen The Thawing and Examination Archived 25 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine Tepapa govt nz Retrieved on 30 September 2011 Marks Kathy 23 March 2007 NZ s colossal squid to be microwaved The New Zealand Herald Retrieved 25 September 2011 Black Richard 28 April 2008 Colossal squid comes out of ice BBC News Retrieved 2 August 2015 a b Ballance Alison 14 October 2014 Colossal Squid Revealed Radio New Zealand Retrieved 2 August 2015 a b Massive squid may be just a babe The Star South Africa dead link World s biggest squid reveals beach ball eyes www terradaily com Wellington AFP 30 April 2008 Retrieved 2 August 2015 Scientists Found Only The Second Intact Colossal Squid Here s What It Looks Like 16 September 2014 Retrieved 26 September 2014 Colossal Squid Oceana Retrieved 10 March 2020 Colossal Squid MarineBio Conservation Society Marine Bio 18 May 2017 Further reading EditAldridge A E 2009 Can beak shape help to research the life history of squid New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43 5 1061 1067 doi 10 1080 00288330 2009 9626529 S2CID 85883651 in Russian Klumov S K amp V L Yukhov 1975 Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson 1925 Cephalopoda Oegopsida Antarktika Doklady Komission 14 159 189 English translation TT 81 59176 Al Ahram Center for Scientific Translations McSweeny E S 1970 Description of the juvenile form of the Antarctic squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson Malacologia 10 323 332 Rodhouse P G Clarke M R 1985 Growth and distribution of young Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson Mollusca Cephalopoda an Antarctic squid Vie Milieu 35 3 4 223 230 External Links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni CephBase Colossal squid Archived from the original on 2005 Tree of Life web project Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Te Papa Colossal Squid Specimen Information Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Te Papa Colossal Squid Images and Video Tonmo com Giant Squid and Colossal Squid Fact Sheet New Zealand Herald Fishermen haul in world s biggest squid USA Today Colossal Squid Caught in Antarctic Waters BBC Super squid surfaces in Antarctic MarineBio Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colossal squid amp oldid 1136382401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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