Giant squid

Architeuthis dux · Architeuthidae

The giant squid is a species of deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae. It can grow to a tremendous size, offering an example of abyssal gigantism; recent estimates put the maximum body size at around 5 m (16 ft) for females, with males slightly shorter, from the posterior fins to the tip of its long arms. 2 m (14 ft), but substantially lighter, as it is less robust and its arms make up much of the length.

Where the Giant squid lives

Recorded in New Zealand, Ashmore and Cartier Is., Spain, South Africa, United States of America, Canada, Fr. S. Antarctic Lands, Norway, Argentina and Namibia (Oceania, Europe, Africa, North America, Seven seas (open ocean) and South America).

Most records fall in Tasmania, Asturias, Sør-Trøndelag, California, Wellington and South Australia.

See the Giant squid’s range on the globe

Conservation status

Least concern (LC). Not at risk: it is doing well in the wild. Categories are the IUCN Red List as republished by GBIF.

Sources

The range is a density of 300 georeferenced GBIF records, not an expert-drawn map. Description from Wikipedia.