How big is the giant squid?

Giant squid, also known as king squid, chief squid, overlord squid, etc., is the largest living invertebrate in the world and the largest class of mollusk cephalopod squid. Living in the deep sea, since the first discovery and acquisition of research samples in the 18th century, due to the discovery of fewer and more incomplete samples, and little knowledge about their living habits, the academic community has not been able to reach an agreement on species determination.

Giant squid cuttlefish are smaller than those of ordinary squid. It is reported that the largest cuttlefish in the deep-sea waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean can be about 20 meters long and weigh about 2-3 tons, making it the largest invertebrate in the world. It is extremely ferocious, feeds on fish and invertebrates, and can fight giant whales. In fact, "giant squid" can grow up to 18 meters long and weigh 900 kilograms.

Giant squid is not grown by ordinary squid, but is an endemic species of squid family. Generally speaking, their volume is determined by the amount and nutritional value of the food. So they eat more, but their metabolism is much slower. As a result, much less Joule energy is needed to support each kilogram of body weight.

The deep-sea giant squid is the ultimate recluse in the eyes of many people, and it is speculated that they spend most of their lives in the darkness of the deep sea, surfacing only after death or dying, or being washed ashore by the tide. But by the time their bodies were found, they were either mutilated by corruption or had been gnawed to pieces by predators in the ocean. So it's not surprising that 130 years after the animal was officially confirmed by scientists, people still know very little about it. A world-famous giant squid researcher even jokingly said that we know much more about dinosaurs than giant squid.

Scientists speculate that this is because the giant squid may live at a depth of 200, 000, 000 meters, a depth that is difficult for people to reach. The reason for this conjecture is that some fishing boats occasionally catch giant squid while trawling in the deep sea, and that the hard beak of giant squid has been found in the belly of sperm whales. Sperm whales usually catch food at depths of 10 to 1000 meters, and occasionally they go to the bottom of the sea to catch food.

On July 10, 2007, a giant squid with a length of 8 meters and weighing 250 kilograms was found on a beach in southern Australia. Scientists say this could provide people with important clues about the habits and habitats of the mysterious animals. The dead squid was found on Ocean Beach on the west coast of Tasmania. Biologists say it is 1 meter wide at its widest point and 8 meters long from the top of the body to the end of the body. Its surviving body may be longer because its two tentacles have been severely damaged and weigh 250 kilograms.