Giant Squid

Giant squids can grow to a tremendous size. Recent estimates put the maximum size at 13 m (43 ft) for females and 10 m (33 ft) for males from caudal fin to the tip of the two long tentacles.  The arms and tentacles account for much of the squid's great length, making it much lighter than its chief predator, the sperm whale. It is common to find circular scars from the suckers on or close to the head of sperm whales that have attacked giant squid. Giant squid have small fins at the rear of their mantles used for locomotion. Like other cephalopods, they are propelled by jet – by pulling water into the mantle cavity, and pushing it through the siphon, in gentle, rhythmic pulses. They can also move quickly by expanding the cavity to fill it with water, then contracting muscles to jet water through the siphon. Giant squid breathe using two large gills inside the mantle cavity. The circulatory system is closed, which is a distinct characteristic of cephalopods. Like other squid, they contain dark ink used to deter predators. It also has the largest eyes of any living creature except perhaps colossal squid – over 30 cm (1 ft) in diameter. Adult giant squids' only known predators are sperm whales, but pilot whales may feed on them, also. Juveniles are preyed on by deep-sea sharks and other fish because sperm whales are skilled at locating giant squid. Scientists have tried to observe them to study the squid. Giant squid are very widespread, occurring in all of the world's oceans. They are usually found near continental and island slopes from the North Atlantic Ocean, especially Newfoundland, Norway, the northern British Isles, Spain and the oceanic islands of the Azores and Madeira, to the South Atlantic around southern Africa, the North Pacific around Japan, and the southwestern Pacific around New Zealand and Australia. Specimens are rare in tropical and polar latitudes.





sorces: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_squid

watch 1. first then number 2.

1.https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U2s3C0lkQE0

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NR53smpV_xg