Date:10/5/2023 8:00 AM
Happy Thursday everyone! Today's fish of the day is the giant squid!
The giant squid, sometimes referred to as the Pacific giant squid, and scientific name Architeuthis dux. The giant squid can be found in deep seas around continental and island slopes, specifically around Norway and the Northern British Isles, and along the North Pacific.
Known mostly for their gigantic size, it is estimated on occasion that the giant squid may have been discussed in sailor folklore as krakens. They can get up to insane sizes of 43 ft, larger than the originally thought 39 feet. Many early specimens and research was based almost entirely off of sperm whale stomach contents, as they are incredibly illusive. The first time a giant squid was photographed in their natural habitat, it was by a Japanese team in 2004.
They mostly exist in deeper water, with their diet consisting of deep sea fish and other cephalopods, including cannibalism. As aforementioned, their number one predator is sperm whales, although they are also hunted by other whale species like the pilot whale, killer whales, and on occasion sharks. We have no reliable evidence for a solid estimate for their population, due to their elusive nature, although it is thought to be in the millions as every year sperm whales consume between 4 and 100 million giant squid.
Giant squid are interesting as they are known to possess a complex nervous system, and brain, although it has been difficult to study. They also have what is considered to possibly be the largest eyes on any living creature, (the other contender being the colossal squid).
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday!