The Boy in the Submarine – episode 3: Colossal Squid

We don’t know much about the colossal squid. They are the reason I wanted to learn about marine biology: I want to learn more about them!

Owen

Colossal Squid courtesy of Open ClipArt by Firkin https://openclipart.org/detail/230695/squid

Colossal Squid are very mysterious, too! We have know about them since 1908, because we found their beaks in the bellies (and poop) of Sperm Whales, but we didn’t see one until we caught one in 2004! We have only ever seen two, caught by the same captain. One is on display at Te Papa New Guinea.

They live deep down in the icy waters near the bottom of the Southern Ocean. We think they lure in prey with their glowing eyes, then snag them with the terrifying hooks at the end of their long feeding tentacles.

We also know that they grow from babies to creatures as big as a van in just two years even though they can go for weeks without eating.

My Dad, Brian Rideout drew me playing video games with a giant squid. I love this picture. (©2024 Owen Rideout)