Giant Squid Facts
Facts and quick information about the Giant Squid for kids.
Facts and quick information about the Giant Squid for kids.
The size of a Giant Squid is on average 6 to 13 m (19.7 to 42.7 ft). The average weight is approximately 50 to 300 kg (110 to 661 lbs)
The Giant Squid, along with the Colossal Squid, have the largest eyes of all animals, they measure 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter, which allows them to detect objects in the darkest depths.
They have parrot-like beaks which are said to be so strong that they could bite through a steel cable. They use their beaks to cut prey into small pieces, which is then shredded with a tongue-like organ that has minute teeth, before being passed on to the esophagus.
On record, the largest Giant Squid is 18 m (59.5 ft) in length with a mantle of 5 m (16.4 ft). It was 1 metric ton in weight.
It's thought that they eat fish, crustaceans and possibly other squid. There have been suggestions that Giant Squid may even eat small whales.
They have been found in ocean's around the world, from the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, especially around South Africa, North and South-West Pacific, between Japan, New Zealand and USA and Canada.
Unlike the Giant Squid, the Colossal Squid can be found in Antarctic waters. The Colossal Squid has a larger body than the Giant Squid, however, its tentacles are much shorter. To capture prey, the Colossal Squid uses hooks and suction cups on its arms and tentacles, where the Giant Squid just uses suckers.