Do giant squids exist?

Question

I know they exist, having seen recent footage of the collosal squid caught by NZ fishermen off of Antartica. But what I want to know is, could a squid, or octopus, exist that was as large as those reported by the sailors of old, or those seen in B-movies that can wrap their tentacles around a ship?

I know it would actually be nigh-on impossible for such a creature to drag a ship down, but, in theory, is it feasible that a cephlapod this large exists?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Squid species vary greatly in size. The common squid of eastern North Atlantic coasts is 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) long, and the giant squid, at least 18 m (60 ft) long, used to be considered the largest aquatic invertebrate. It lives at depths of 300 to 600 m (985 to 1,970 ft). Another species, presently called the “colossal squid”, is believed to be considerably bigger. It was first discovered in 1925 at depths of up to 2,200 m (7,220 ft), but in 2003 the first example—an immature adult—was recovered in Antarctic waters. Both giant and colossal squid are the prey of sperm whales and, occasionally, sleeper sharks.

Answer 2

Do Giant Squids Exist

Answer 3

The Giant squid certainly exists, & so does the Collossal Squid. However, it's hard to say exactly how big these squid can grow. One well known story, which is mentioned on the Internet, & a few books also, is of a truly enormous squid, which was reportedly seen by a crew member on a Merchant ship in the Indian Ocean, some time ago in 1944. I forget the guy's name, but I remember the story well. He was on a shift, known as the Midnight to 4am, 'grave yard' shift. One thing he was known particularly for, was sitting on deck, & lowering down a line, with a load of lanterns attached. He said it would attract fish of many different colours & species. One night, however, the fish just scattered. As he stared down at the water, he suddenly noticed a huge green orb, glowing in the water. The truth soon dawned upon him that, he was staring at a collossal eye. In fact, it was perhaps the most collossal squid ever sighted. He then realised, he was staring face to face with a collossal squid. He had sufficient time to run below deck & grab his quarter-master's torch & then, starting from the front end of the ship, he began to observe the beast. He noticed the animal was moving alongside the ship, using just a light pulsing movement, which was noticeable on its' mantle. He continued to move along the length of the ship, noticing the enormous & razor sharp beak, & the tentacles & then eventually, he found the end of the squid. Rather shockingly, he came to realise that as he'd found the end of the squid, he'd walked the entire length of the ship. 175 feet plus. The squid was reported as being as long as the ship. Suddenly, it then swelled up & just zoomed off into the night. I work at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London & in the Darwin Centre, we have a Giant Squid specimen. One of the most complete ever recovered. Very amazing to look at, 30 feet long, & it smells absolutely foul. In fact, although, it's in a controlled environment, it always manages to ensure the tank room totally reeks! If you think about it, also, the Giant & Collossal Squid, both live in very cold & very deep waters, in which the pressure is enormous. If they come into a warm region, the heat will cause them to float straight to the service, & the sudden release of pressure will cause their mantle to explode. The advantages of the coldest, deepest parts of the ocean, allow these animals to grow enormous. Perhaps far bigger than anybody will ever know, or even believe. I believe it's possible. People are too used to believing what they want to believe. And that's because most people will never know anything, beyond what they see with their own two eyes. Who knows what is at the bottom of the Marianas Trench in the South Pacific Ocean? The water is deep enough to hide the Himalayas, with several thousand feet to spare. Nobody's ever made it to the bottom yet, as the pressure is just far too enormous. Even the strongest deep sea submersibles, cannot go that deep. The trench is around 40 thousand feet deep. Roughly about 7 miles deep. That's alot. And to survive at those depths, an animal would have to be both truly enormous & able to survive in extremely cold waters. Also, another case, is one observed some time during the mid 20th century. A giant squid attacked a young bowhead whale calf. I think it was a bowhead. Anyway, the calf was repeatedly trying to stay near the surface to breathe. Being as dangerous as it was, the mother was unable to stop the squid. Eventually, she had to leave, as her calf was drowned by the squid. A Zoologist one noticed a Sperm Whale surfacing, while he was on a boat. What got his mind going, were the sucker marks on the whale's body. They were a staggering 40 inches across. That's more than 3 feet across. Then in the 1960's, the entire crew of a whaling ship, witnessed an epic battle between a giant squid & a sperm whale, both locked in mortal combat. Eventually, they killed each other. The quid's head & mantle had been crushed between the whale's jaws & the whale had been suffocated by the squid, which had been wrapping it's tentacles so tight, in a desperate attempt to escape. So you ask, do they exist? Is it feasible that such truly enormous cephalopods can exist? Alot of people may think you're crazy for believing it. They also say that the sailors who always spoke of the legendary Kraken, were just driven to such delirium after so long at sea. Well, forget what they think. I believe it's possible. Very possible that they exist.

Answer 4

This is a great question...its really made me think.
So, firstly thank you.

Secondly, there probably isn't a squid that is much bigger than the one they've just found.
Where could it live?

I suppose it could live in the depths of the unexplored ocean, but cephlapods surely wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure.

So, unfortunately, and as much as i wish this not to be the case, I don't think one could ever take down a ship.

Sorry.

Answer 5

Giant squids do exist but not as big as to wrap tentacles around an entire ship.

Answer 6

Only a tiny percent of the oceans have been examined and studied. the deepest any submersible has been is a robotic sub down 2.5 miles.

Parts of the ocean are over 7 miles deep.

It is always possible giants lurk down there.

Spongebob Squarepants may know, or even better, ask squidward. ;o)

Answer 7

You need to remember that the ships were a lot smaller then, I think its entirely possible, some of the worlds oceans are miles deep-anything could live down there, just because you haven't seen one doesn't mean they don't exist.

Answer 8

I think so - the footage of that NZ squid gave me nightmares! And if something that size exists, why not something much bigger that is just too deep to be found?

Answer 9

the squid that was found off of the coast of New Zealand was one of the largest recorded. It is possible that larger gigantic squids exist but until one is discovered you can never say for certain.

Answer 10

sure do
they have seen some giant sucker marks on whales ,this question was asked last week and people send in a lot of photos just check in asked questions on giant squids