Outstanding oceanographer and deep-sea explorer Dr. James Wood has this to say about colossal squids: “They are the largest invertebrates on Earth, and perhaps the most fascinating.”
Colossal squids (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) are truly massive creatures, growing up to 14 meters in length and weighing up to 750 kilograms. They are believed to be the largest invertebrates on Earth. These amazing animals live in the cold, deep waters of the Southern Ocean, where they hunt for fish, squid, and other small prey.
Despite their enormous size, very little is known about these elusive creatures. They were first discovered in 1925, when a fisherman caught one off the coast of New Zealand. Since then, there have been only a handful of sightings of live colossal squids. In 2003, another specimen was captured by Japanese researchers – this time off Antarctica. This individual was even larger than the first one found, measuring an incredible 10 meters in length!
Researchers believe that colossal squids are long-lived animals with slow growth rates. They think that these creatures may live for over 100 years! Given their great size and slow reproduction rate (females lay just 50-100 eggs at a time), it’s no wonder that they are considered an endangered species.