Species · GBIF taxon 2290184
Giant Squid
Architeuthis duxGiant squids cruise the pitch-black depths of the global ocean, using eyes the size of dinner plates to detect the faint bioluminescent silhouettes of prey and predators alike. They navigate the bathypelagic zone using a highly developed nervous system and hunt by launching two extremely long, sucker-studded feeding tentacles to snatch deep-sea fish and other squids. Their elusive nature means most of what we know comes from specimens found in the stomachs of sperm whales or washed up on remote beaches.
Deep SeaGigantismCephalopod
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Deep-sea Fish
- Other Squids
- Crustaceans
Predators
- Sperm Whale
- Sleeper Shark
- Pilot Whale
ThreatsDeep-sea trawling, climate change, and acoustic pollution
HabitatsBathypelagic and mesopelagic ocean zones
Life spanAbout 1 to 5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyArchiteuthidae
- SpeciesArchiteuthis dux
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Deep-sea habitat prevents any direct contact with living individuals.
Responsible observation
- Museum Exhibits: View preserved specimens in major natural history museums to appreciate their immense scale.
- Beached Specimens: Report any washed-up carcasses to local marine biologists immediately for scientific study.
- Deep-sea Footage: Watch verified submarine recordings to see their natural bioluminescence and movement.
Predator (c) Gabriel Barathieu, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Deep-sea Neighbor Close Relative Distant Relative
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