This much-reproduced photograph shows a giant squid found at Ranheim in Trondheimsfjord, Norway, on 2 October 1954 (#136 on this list), being examined by Professors Erling Sivertsen and Svein Haftorn. The unusually complete specimen measured 9.24m in total length and had a mantle length of 1.79m. Specimens such as this, if properly preserved, can provide important scientific data long after they are collected; the animal pictured had its beakmorphometrics and tentacle morphology studied by Roeleveld (2000) and Roeleveld (2002), respectively.
This list of giant squid specimens and sightings from the 20th century is a comprehensive timeline of human encounters with members of the genusArchiteuthis, popularly known as giant squid. It includes animals that were caught by fishermen, found washed ashore, recovered (in whole or in part) from sperm whales and other predatory species, as well as those reliably sighted at sea. The list also covers specimens incorrectly assigned to the genus Architeuthis in original descriptions or later publications.
Compilation of published coordinates for 20th century specimens (some may be subject to significant rounding error and even indicate inland locations) Download coordinates as:KML
Observations of live and freshly dead animals also revealed new aspects of giant squid behaviour, including rapid colour change (#254 and 391) and high-speed swimming at the surface (#106), though the veracity of the latter observation has been questioned.[1] Additionally, examinations of dead specimens and partial remains provided data on diet (#226 and 412), longevity and habitat (#369, 371, and 374), depth of occurrence and buoyancy (#246 and 266), metabolism and locomotory ability (#411), as well as tentacle regeneration and internal parasites (#169). New preservation methods, including plastination (#429), were also trialled.
The large-scale commercial exploitation of sperm whales, particularly from the end of World War II to the 1970s, provided a rich source of giant squid remains for scientific study. The vast majority of these consisted of disarticulated beaks (with up to 47 found in a single sperm whale stomach; #331), though more substantial remains were occasionally recovered, including even whole adult specimens (#84, 128, 137, 151, 209, 225, and 234),[2] with one reportedly showing signs of life after being vomited (#128). The most important figure in the study of ingested giant squid remains was marine biologist Malcolm Clarke, who authored around a dozen relevant papers.[3]
Following the flurry of new giant squid species descriptions that characterised the latter half of the 19th century, the 20th century saw only three newly erected species: Architeuthis japonica by Pfeffer (1912:27), based on a specimen caught in Tokyo Bay in 1895 (#67); Architeuthis clarkei by Robson (1933), based on a carcass that washed ashore in Scarborough, England, earlier that year (#107); and Architeuthis nawaji by Cadenat (1935), based on a specimen caught in the Bay of Biscay the same year (#110). The consensus today is that there exists only a single, globally distributed species of giant squid: Architeuthis dux.[4]
The second half of the 20th century saw the first serious efforts to photograph or film a live giant squid. Beginning in the late 1980s, most of these early attempts were led by either Frederick Aldrich or Clyde Roper, the two foremost giant squid experts of their time. However, it would not be until the first years of the 21st century that this milestone was finally achieved.[nb 1]
Length of arm given by whalers who witnessed whale regurgitating it in "death-flurry". Whale's head bore "long parallel stripes" consisting of putative giant squid sucker scars c. 27mm across; numerous squid beaks up to 9cm long found in stomach.
Collected by Captain Bruun from two sperm whale stomachs per Massy (1913), but specimen label indicates a single sperm whale and gives donor name as E.W.L. Holt.[6] Stored dry.[7] A second Architeuthis accession (NMI 1995.16.484), which lacks an acquisition date but is labelled "Beak and eye of Cuttlefish from stomach of sperm whale. Blacksod Bay [in County Mayo]. Given by H.C. Hartnell.", may represent the remains from the second sperm whale stomach reported by Massy (1913); based on its label this specimen appears to date from the late 19th to early 20th century.[6]
Observed by Mr. K. Hovden (Manager, Booth Canning Company, Monterey). Supposedly eaten raw by Italian fishermen who "captured" it; considered highly doubtful given ammonium chloride present in giant squid tissues.
W.R.B. Oliver (observer?). Considered by Paxton (2016a:83) as the "longest measured" mantle length of any giant squid specimen (though "more reliably" that of #47).
Seen swimming at 20–25kn (37–46km/h) (based on three observations) alongside freighter M/V Brunswick (15,000 tons) before turning towards ship and "hitting the hull approximately 150ft (46m) from the stern at a depth of 12–15ft (3.7–4.6m)", then "skidd[ing] along until it ended up in the propeller, where it was ground to pieces", as recounted by shipmaster Arne Grønningsæter. Veracity of account has been questioned,[1] though taken seriously by Aldrich (1991:477) who described it as "[t]he classical report on the speed of architeuthid swimming" and cited it as evidence that giant squid are sufficiently fast to evade sperm whales (the latter capable of only around 10–12kn (19–22km/h)).
Caught by Harbour Main fisherman Joe Ezekiel, who sold specimen to a scientist for NF$10.00 (equivalent to US$140 in 2023). Stored in local Fisheries Department's fish freezer, which caught fire, destroying specimen. At least three photographs of the specimen exist. Nancy Frances Button (née Frost), who wrote detailed paper on find, was brought to Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1964 to view specimen #169, as none of the scientists there had examined a giant squid before.[19]
Found on rocky coast by local man named Shippey, who removed beak and took it home; portion of remaining body cut up as fishermen's bait. Beak obtained by W.J. Clarke (through E.A. Wallis) and passed onto the Natural History Museum, London, where G. J. Crawford of the Mollusca Department identified it as Architeuthis without suggesting a species.
Gerald L. Wood called it "the largest known Architeuthis" from Norway. Not weighed; mass estimate attributed to "Karl Basilier, pers. comm.". Possibly the same as 1939 Norway specimen indicated in Sivertsen (1955:11, fig. 4) (map location only).
Found by Johannes Våga of Lyngholmen who brought it to the attention of Haugesunds Avis, which reported on specimen and notified Bergens Museum. Museum sought remains for examination but specimen already destroyed and buried, after initially being damaged by young boys who tore head off and mutilated mantle. Southernmost Norwegian stranding recorded up to that point.[20]
It has been suggested that a "sea serpent" reported from the same fjord by [Anon.] (1849:264) (based on 28 July 1845 sighting; description attributed to Reverend Mr. Deinboll, archdeacon of Molde) may have been a giant squid.[21]
CSIR Fisheries Division at Cronulla notified about specimen by Mr. W. Warn. Shipment of specimen from Eden to Australian Museum arranged by Lucy M. Willings of CSIR. Gladius and internal organs removed prior to reposit. Identified as "largest squid" in 2003 edition of Guinness World Records,[22] a distinction given to the Thimble Tickle specimen (#45) in most prior and subsequent editions.
Voss (1956:138) wrote that it was "no longer in existence" and identification as A.princeps or A.harveyi was based on "recollections [...] of the heart shaped fins".
Non-architeuthid. Based on the original illustrations and written description, Roper & Young (1972:220) wrote: "the specimens appear to be members of the Psychroteuthidae". Ellis (1998a:121) gives erroneous total length of "8 feet [2.4m]" for the larger specimen (though correctly given as "8 inches [20cm]" by Ellis, 1994a:145); mistake repeated by Glaubrecht & Salcedo-Vargas (2004:67), giving rise to the claim of an implausibly large psychroteuthid "with about three meter total length".
Much-reproduced photograph shows specimen being measured by Professors Erling Sivertsen and Svein Haftorn. Beak morphometrics studied by Roeleveld (2000). Tentacle morphology examined by Roeleveld (2002). According to Broch (1954) it was stranded on 3 October and found on 4 October, and was 16th specimen recorded from Norway.
As recollected by former resident who saw specimen when she was a child in the 1950s. Locals were unaware of giant squid and regarded specimen as "something completely unique, one of a kind" but did not report it.[28]
Squid swallowed whole by 47ft (14m)sperm whale (no. F346). Examined at Porto Pim whaling station. Budker (1959) states: "This is probably the only complete specimen of such an animal to be collected under these conditions." Considered by Paxton (2016a:83) as specimen with the longest "definitely measured" mantle length (less reliably #151), standard length, and total length (though see discredited size of #209) of any giant squid recovered from a sperm whale.
Possibly specimen illustrated in Rathjen (1973:24), which was taken by the vessel Silver Bay "off the coast of Florida" and said to measure 47ft (equivalent to 14.33m) in "overall length".
From stomach of lancetfish No. 18123, captured on tunalong-line at 50–150m depth and supplied by G. E. Maul. Squid's greatly distended stomach contained largely unidentifiable material with some small fragments of fish bones. Sucker rings missing; likely degraded by digestive juices or formalin fixative. Tentacle morphology examined by Roeleveld (2002).
From 16m sperm whale. Considered by Paxton (2016a:83) as possibly greatest measured mantle length of any giant squid recovered from a sperm whale (more reliably #137), though he wrote: "the account is confused and the 2.4m figure probably refers to the head and ML combined".
From lancetfish captured on long-line at 80–150m depth by R/V Shoyo Maru (Cruise 13, Fish Station 17). Squid specimen and capture information supplied by Witek L. Klawe. Stomach found to be empty. Sucker rings missing; likely degraded by digestive juices or formalin fixative.
Nicknamed "Archi".[34] Collected by John McGrath; initially stored frozen at Conche Bait Department before being transferred by EPA plane to Frederick Aldrich at Memorial University of Newfoundland on 7 November (where temporarily held at animal house to allow viewing by students), following three weeks of bad weather that prevented plane from landing at Conche.[35] Weighed on Air Canada baggage scales at Torbay Airport.[33] Said to be most discussed biological specimen in university's history.[32] Already partially dissected by morning of 9 November; Aldrich and undergraduate student Sylvia Ruby made comparative study of its nervous system and that of commercially important Illex illecebrosus.[32] Illustrations taken of dissected parts, together with ~150 b&w photos and ~60–70 colour photos.[19] Nancy Frances Button (née Frost) of New Melbourne, Trinity Bay, who was person "most closely connected" to last good specimen from Newfoundland in 1935 (#111), was brought in to examine remains and said to have been "tremendous help" to Aldrich and others, for whom this was their first giant squid specimen.[19] Two classes (Biology 230 and Biology 591) and upper level students allowed to examine remains.[32] Great effort made to use Newfoundland news media to spread information on find to general public and request information on future specimens.[36] Stomach empty;[32]cestode found in caecum by Pippy & Aldrich (1969). Tentacular regeneration documented by Aldrich & Aldrich (1968); one of two published records of limb regeneration in architeuthids (as identified by Imperadore & Fiorito, 2018), the other being a case of arm and sucker regeneration in #54 (see also #549). Postulated to have died of natural causes.[32]Frederick Aldrich included a photo of this specimen in a 1965 letter to Paul Fye, director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, proposing to use DSV Alvin to study the giant squid in its natural habitat.[37] Served as main basis for "life-sized" giant squid model at Peabody Museum of Natural History.[38]
Possibly seen alive in September on several occasions. Found at depth of around 10ft (3.0m) by two young boys playing on beach, who dragged it onto beach; found two weeks later by Herbert Reid of Chapel Arm who telephoned Frederick Aldrich, having seen the latter's advertisement requesting information on any local specimens; transferred to Memorial University of Newfoundland's animal house and dissection commenced on same day.[39] Incorrectly referred to as Illex illecebrosus by Ferman (1965:6).
Voss (1967:411) wrote of "the head and body of an 18-foot [5.5m] [giant] squid picked up dead off Miami by a charter-boat captain" that he examined a week after #174 in 1965. Yoshikawa (2014) writes: "A 14-meter-long giant squid caught off the Bahamas in the Atlantic in 1966 is the largest ever confirmed."
Found by Edward Legge; delivered to Memorial University of Newfoundland by Mr. Mercer of Biology Department in university truck on 11 November at 4a.m., where it was received by Frederick Aldrich.[44] Kept frozen in Job Brothers facility prior to dissection.[44] Slightly larger than previous specimens; initially thought by Aldrich to be new species.[44]
Caught by sport fishermen Dr. Julián Morán and Mr. Piñón from Oviedo. Heaviest recorded giant squid from Asturias and possibly from entire Atlantic Ocean.[47]
Taken from sperm whale stomach by whaling flotilla Sovetskaya Ukraina. Considered by Paxton (2016a:83) as possibly "longest measured" total length of any giant squid specimen (though more reliably that of #45 and 62), but this was based on the erroneous total length given in Berzin (1971).[nb 2]
Specimen donated to aquarium by Kurihama Thermoelectric Power Plant. Tentatively assigned to A.japonica based on relative lengths of mantle and longest arm IV.
From stomach of female swordfish (205cm fork length). Very small mature specimen with spermatophores (subadult according to Roper & Shea, 2013). Toll & Hess (1981b) suggested it might be an undescribed dwarf species and Roeleveld (2002:736) wrote of this specimen: "It probably represents a distinct species and perhaps even a separate genus." Kir Nesis also thought it was probably a separate species and wrote that no new information on it had appeared in the 20 years since its original description.[26]
On public display. Nicknamed "Moby Squid"[59] and "Archi".[60] Removed from beach on stretcher by four men.[61] Originally displayed at New England Aquarium. Given as gift to National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in 1982; acquisition publicised in early 1983 at "Giant Squid Press Conference" led by giant squid expert Clyde Roper at NMNH, where displayed in "mammoth wooden bathtub"[59] in 125 US gallons (470L) of alcohol.[61] Planned to be initially displayed in museum rotunda for several months before being dissected and studied.[59] Collected for museum by Roper who flew in and moved it from Boston to Washington, D.C. in back of truck; recounted in episode of documentary series First Person in 2000.[62] Featured in Smithsonian Institution's monthly newspaper, The Smithsonian Torch, in February 1983[63] and in 2000 documentary film Quest for the Giant Squid;[64] subject of 1983 television short "The Smithsonian's Giant Squid".[65] From 14 April 2009 displayed in 8-foot (2.4m) fibreglass tank filled with ~300 US gallons (1,100L) of isopropyl alcohol at Georgia Aquarium's Cold Water Quest Gallery, on loan from NMNH (planned for up to 2 years).[66]
241
March–April 1980
about 250 miles (400km) off California (34°39'–35°39'N 126°25'–127°28'W), North Pacific Ocean, at 25–40 to 90m depth {NEP}
By trawl
Architeuthis sp.
18 entire specimens
Undetermined
ML: 50–77cm (average: 62.5cm); additional measurements, indices, and descriptions
Severed from live animal; tissue still elastic and responsive to mechanical stimulation, exhibiting grasping suckers and chromatophore contraction.[67] Provided direct evidence for depth of occurrence. Chemical analysis carried out by Robison (1989); composition suggestive of "relatively strong swimming capability" and buoyancy due to high ammonium concentration. Flesh tasted by Robison who described it as "bitter".[68] Featured in episode of 1998 documentary series The X Creatures.[69]
On public display. Stranded by receding tide around 11:30a.m.;[70] found in 30cm of water adjacent to the property of David Lush, who came upon it while walking with his young daughter Kelly. Lush and Ray Collins brought it to the attention of Frederick Aldrich, via Jon Lien.[70] Viewed on beach by staff and students of Jane Collins Academy, one of whom photographed specimen in situ.[71] Transported to the Memorial University of Newfoundland where it arrived on morning of 11 November, and dissected there on 12 November. Vivid chromatophoric colour change observed in the form of waves and flashes, and suckers of manal (central) portion of tentacular club still functioned.[70] Eye was "relatively intact" and included lens; described by Aldrich as "first ever collected".[70]Stellate ganglion and associated giant axon dissected out by neuroscientist Don Geduldig.[70]Alimentary canal free of food remains.[70] Donated by Aldrich to the Natural History Branch of the old Newfoundland Museum in 1987. Originally preserved in 300-litre tank. On 18 November 2007, following minor repairs (arms sewn up and loose skin removed), specimen was transferred to an 800-gallon (3,600L) tank filled with propylene glycol at The Rooms, where it could be exhibited with tentacles fully extended.
Entire; most of viscera missing, posterior tail and fins cut off, small piece of testis present, fragments of reddish membrane (which normally covers viscera) present, spermatangia deeply implanted in left arm IV (180–350mm from base)
Entire
Male (mature?)
ML: 900mm; MT: 22mm [maximum]; WT: ≥18kg [much lower than fresh mass]; AL(I): 700+/750+ mm; AL(II): 610+/870+ mm; AL(III): 980+/790+ mm; AL(IV): 830+/940+ mm; TL: 810+/1040+ mm; EyD: 80mm; GiL: 250mm; FuD: 55mm; FuCL: 115mm; ASD: 15mm [largest]; [measurements taken after almost 25 years of preservation in formalin]
On public display. Caught by beam trawler Urk 56, operating from IJmuiden harbour; purchased from F. Sievertsen. First giant squid caught by Dutch fishermen. Probably mature, having spermatangia (inverted spermatophores) implanted in ventral arm. Exhibited at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden in formalin or 70% alcohol.[72]
Stored frozen at −25°C. Identified by Takashi Okutani, then of Tokai-ku Fisheries Research Institute. Chemical composition of arm and mantle tissue analysed by Iida et al. (1992).
Found stuck in filtering screens of cooling water intake of New Plymouth power station. Specimen "appeared to be a different species" from next New Zealand carcass (#267).[73]
Specimen "brought to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Wellington on the back of a ute by a rock lobster fisherman", who initially thought it was "a large floating plastic bag" but noticed it was being attacked by gulls. Many features said to be intermediate between those of #265 and 267.[73]
Reported by T. Matthews of the Department of the Environment at Bristol's Hope, Conception Bay. "No information on the specimen has been obtained, save that it was in "rotting" condition".[76]
On public display.Photographedin shallow water by Yasuke Yamane. Exhibited at Tottori Prefectural Museum since 21 June 1988, preserved in formalin; oldest specimen on public display in Japan.[79] Displayed in 4m × 0.7m × 0.7m tank on inclined surface so both sides can be viewed.[80] Formed part of ground floor exhibit at Misawa Airport between 15 and 30 July 2006.[81] Removed from old tank and examined in detail on 19 March 2013.[82]
From 46ft (14m) male sperm whale. Giant squid accounted for 43% by number and estimated 80% by weight of total stomach contents. Possibly largest number of giant squid beaks found in a single whale stomach.[83]
Found on beach; collected by S. Wisby. Main specimen at Museums Victoria preserved in 70% ethanol and 4% formalin buffered with borax.[85] Missing tentacles according to one source.[86]
Non-architeuthid. Photograph of sick/dying Onykia robusta taken by H. Kubota in shallow water. Squid is shown with diver, although wide-angle photography exaggerates animal's size. A video of the same squid appears in a Japanese made-for-television film.[89] If correctly identified as an architeuthid these would have been the first photo and video of a live giant squid.[89]
Discussing maximum mantle length in giant squid, Paxton (2016a:83) wrote: "A 4.5m specimen from Mauritius is often mistakenly cited but consultation of the primary paper (Staub, 1993) reveals an ill-defined length which is clearly not ML."
Found by tourist boat Batros I. Thought to have been attacked by sperm whale 2–3 days earlier; several cetacean teeth found among remains. Replica exhibited in Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología (formerly Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (see video); specimen itself was long stored frozen and briefly put on public display as part of temporary exhibition "El Museo Fabulado" between 18 March and 31 May 2011.
Entire, tail damaged, all arms damaged (with most tips missing), tentacles damaged (left missing club, right with detached club portion), eyes missing, head detached
Caught by Martin Von Stanke on F/V Ocean Lady over ~25m bottom depth. Stored on ice and transported to museum (with assistance of Thierry Laperousaz) after 1 day without prior freezing. Tissue samples from digestive gland and arm (SAMA B80) saved at −80°C, muscle samples from mantle and tentacle (SAMA XD0040) preserved in 100% alcohol.
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Beak, radula and fragmented gladius removed and preserved separately. Stomach contained only 9 undetermined squid suckers (13–16mm diameter) and remains of others. Two large gashes (~20cm) on left side of mantle may indicate predator attack (but no whales sighted in area at the time).
Originally displayed in the hall of marine giants (sala de gigantes del mar) at Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" in Buenos Aires from 1996, but removed in 2005 due to "technical issues" affecting it.[91] Considered the museum's iconic specimen, it was placed back on display in July 2016 (see video) as part of celebrations of the museum's 204th anniversary (see video).[91]
Taken by trawler M.F.V. Sionnainn, skippered by Michael Flannery (Flannery's son caught two giant squid in the same area in 2017: #651 and 652). University College Cork scientist Colm Lordan interviewed about find on RTÉ News on 1 May 1995; examination began same day.[92] Donated to National Museum of Ireland – Natural History by Lordan; preserved in spirit.[7]
Taken by trawler M.F.V. Sionnainn, skippered by Michael Flannery (Flannery's son caught two giant squid in the same area in 2017: #651 and 652). Donated to National Museum of Ireland – Natural History by Colm Lordan; preserved in spirit.[7]
Beak increments used by Perales-Raya et al. (2020) to estimate age at 615 days. Beak preserved in 70% ethanol upon collection; rehydrated in distilled water for several days prior to age estimation.
Mated female with spermatophores embedded in epidermis of both ventral arms, around 1m from mouth. Ovary occupying <20% of mantle cavity contained "hundreds of thousands of undeveloped eggs". Adult specimen according to Landman et al. (2004:686). Isotopic analysis of statolith carried out by Landman et al. (2004) to determine age and habitat. Photographed by David Paul. Featured in episode of 1998 documentary series The X Creatures.[69] Based on mantle length described as "largest measured specimen" by Perales-Raya et al. (2020), who estimated age of specimen (and maximum lifespan of species) at 2.5–5.1 (mean 3.3) years or 2.1–3.5 (mean 2.6) years, depending on growth rate estimate.[95] Also cited by Roper & Shea (2013:114) as specimen with one of greatest recorded mantle lengths.
Live weight constituted an estimated 7.27% of total prey weight from 893 blue sharks sampled. First giant squid record from Mexican waters and southernmost record in the California Current.
On public display. First known giant squid specimen from the Mediterranean Sea. Frozen after discovery; later thawed and preserved in formaldehyde. Nidamental glands and ovary (occupying 36% of mantle cavity) very well developed, latter containing hundreds of thousands of still-opaque eggs; stomach empty.[98]Guerra et al. (2006:89) give mid-1998 as date and ~125cm as mantle length.
Collected by commercial fishermen of F/V Aquila. Offered as gift to AMNH by Steve O'Shea of NIWA, who contacted Neil Landman in March 1998. Transported from Wellington to New York City by combination of refrigerated trucks and air cargo (with unscheduled delay in Los Angeles). Received by AMNH still frozen on 10 June 1998, as first specimen in its history. Photographed by Portia Rollings of AMNH upon arrival. Examined and preserved by Landman and Paula Mikkelsen.
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Tissue samples taken and beak and radula removed and placed in 95% ethanol. Specimen injected with and fixed in 10% saline formalin solution. Kept this way for 2 weeks and buffered in first 4 days (ultimately with sodium bicarbonate) to preserve sucker rings. Next subjected to 5 days of freshwater washes and finally transferred to 70/75% ethanol. Mature spermatophore found in mantle cavity. Put on display in Hall of Biodiversity from 12 October 1999, in 1500-litre stainless steel and fibreglass tank (built under direction of David Harvey) with tentacles taken from #390. Covered in 1999 children's book Giant Squid: Mystery of the Deep.[100]
Found on snow-covered beach by M.Sc. student Oscar Campbell who collected tentacular club; identified as Architeuthis at University of Aberdeen. Measured in situ following day by Martin Collins's group and dragged in two pieces (mantle, head plus limbs) to Zoology Department, where measured and dissected; stomach empty. Beak and buccal mass removed and put on display at Zoology Department.
387
13 March 1998
off New Zealand (42°50.9–49.8'S 177°16.6'–176°55.3'E) at 489–475m depth {SWP}
Taken by the vessel Kasuga Maru of the Pespasa fishing company. Collected by fishery inspector. Surface water temperature recorded as 9.1°C and air temperature as 14°C.
Fishermen reported rapid skin colour change, suggesting chromatophores were still active and specimen was freshly dead. Other remains of large squid were observed. Sperm whales said to have occurred in the area at the time.
Taken by the vessel Rikuzen of the Pesantar SA fishing company in 105m long drag net. Collected by scientific observer. Frozen onboard with arms reconstructed after being crushed by weight of fish catch. Landed in Ushuaia on 18 March 1999 and thawed on 22 March for sample collection. Examined by Silvana Pineda and others from Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), who travelled especially from Mar del Plata.
On public display. Nicknamed "Molly the Mollusk". Transferred to Mote Marine Laboratory in 1999 and exhibited at Mote Aquarium since 2001. Spent two years as part of travelling exhibit "Sea Monsters" before returning to Mote in September 2015; displayed at "Exploration Gallery" (formerly "Shark Attack Theater"). Featured in 2003 episode of documentary series Mystery Hunters.[102]
408
16 March 1999
off New Zealand (48º49.55'S 166º53'–167º16'E) {SWP}
Spotted by crew of Brazilian long-liner Macedo V. Spermatophores embedded in left ventral arm, around 60cm from mouth. Small number of eggs present (~2.0mm wide). Authors found "a few peculiarities [...] [i]n the shape of the fins, head and the cross-section and length of ventral arms".
First record of living specimen collected in Spanish Atlantic waters. Caught by Spanish pair trawlers Minchos V and Minchos VI based in Cillero, Lugo, while targeting blue whiting.
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Auctioned off in Avilés fish market and acquired by Jiménez Fishmongers (Pescaderias Jiménez) of Avilés and later CEPESMA president Luis Laria, who froze it immediately after measurements were taken. Defrosted, dissected and reconstructed in courtyard of Padre Galo public school (Colegio Público Padre Galo), Luarca, on 25 January 2000, surrounded by school students, onlookers, and journalists. Placed in transparent glass case and fixed for 48 hours in 4% formalin; later preserved in 70% alcohol.
Caught as bycatch of Thysanoteuthis fishery. Part of body collected by Ogasawara Fisheries Center research vessel Koyo. Further specimens recorded off Chichijima by Sunheng Maru (entire specimen with tentacles) and Chihiro Maru. Also observed being preyed upon by sperm whales during whale watching.[105] Severed tentacles "snagged on baited lures" reported by longline fishermen.[106] Such reports motivated choice of Ogasawara Islands as location for 2004 expedition that produced first photographs of live giant squid in natural habitat (#492).[106]
On public display. Nicknamed "Wheke" after a sea monster of Māori mythology. Donated by NIWA of New Zealand to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris. Became the first giant squid specimen to be plastinated; consolidated using structures inserted into tentacles, arms and funnel; 300 suckers reconstituted, original beak replaced, glass eyes inserted, and coloured to approximate natural appearance. Since 2008 on display on ground floor of the Gallery of Evolution (grande galerie de l'Évolution), MNHN. Restored in March 2019 by head MNHN taxidermist Christophe Gottini and assistant Vincent Cuisset over period of at least 30 hours ahead of exhibition "Ocean, an unusual dive", held from 3 April 2019 to 5 January 2020; old paint replaced. Specimen had originally been exposed to dust while still sticky, altering its appearance significantly.
NMNH catalog no. USNM 1111097 and field number MML 8041.00 (parts including mantle, gladius, beak, and radula)[107] [specimen No. 19 of Roper et al. (2015)]
Collected by French trawler Austral. Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross (Diomedea chlororhynchos) observed feeding on corpse. Fishermen reported two other specimens of large squid observed in previous weeks.
Found by crew of the Illusions charter boat "while filming a TV show with Capt. Norm Issacs for ESPN". Photographed reconstructed on jetty, with head, limbs and anterior portion of mantle shown ventrally, but (detached) finned posterior end of mantle arranged dorsally.[108]
The following images relate to 20th century giant squid specimens and sightings. The number below each image corresponds to that given in the List of giant squid table and is linked to the relevant record therein. The date on which the specimen was first documented is also given (the little-endian day/month/year date format is used throughout).
#73 (15/8/1903) A portion of skin from the same sperm whale, bearing putative giant squid sucker scars (Murray & Hjort, 1912:653, fig. 486). In this widely reproduced image the scars measure around 27mm (1.1in) across.[109]
British newspaper article from 1918, speculating about possible encounters between giant squid and German U-boats. Reference is made to "fragments of squid" in such condition that the animals must have "been in battle with some adversary more powerful than any sea creature".
#101 (4/3/1928) Specimen found washed ashore in Ranheim, Norway, measuring around 7.9m in total length
#106 (1930–1933) Arne Grønningsæter's sketch of his supposed encounter with a giant squid in the open ocean between Hawaii and Samoa in 1930–1933 (Grønningsæter, 1946:380, fig. 1). The animal was observed swimming at 20–25kn (37–46km/h) alongside a 15,000-ton freighter before turning towards the ship, colliding with the hull, skidding along it, and being ground to pieces by the propeller.
#107 (14/1/1933) Hand-coloured black-and-white photograph of the giant squid found washed ashore on Scarborough's south beach, England, on 14 January 1933, from a magic lantern slide (c. 1930s) as featured in Robin Lidster's Scarborough From Old Photographs[110]
#108 (2/6/1933) Beak of a large squid tentatively identified as "Architeuthis sp." and said to have originated from Lairg, Scotland, preserved at London's Natural History Museum, where it was accessioned on 2 June 1933 (see also other side)
#109 (?/12/1933) Photograph by A. Proctor of the Dildo specimen in lateral view, the detached head and caudal ("tail") section placed in approximately natural positions (Frost, 1934:114 & pl. 1).
#119 (11/9/1946) Giant squid that washed ashore in Romsdalsfjord, Romsdal, Norway, on 11 September 1946. It measured 9.35m (30.7ft) in total length and was described as being quite fresh and well-preserved.[112]
#124 (30/11/1949) Another view of the same specimen; both this and the previous photograph were originally published in the Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial and later reproduced in Rae (1950)
#136 (2/10/1954) The specimen was featured on the cover of the December 1954 issue of the Norwegian Zoological Society's quarterly journal, Fauna: Norsk Zoologisk Forenings Tidsskrift[113]
#149 (18/2/1961) and #164 (17/12/1963) The first early juvenile giant squid specimens ever recorded, both taken from lancetfish stomachs: the left from the northeast Atlantic (57mm ML; #149) and the right from the southeast Pacific (45mm ML; #164); details of their tentacular clubs and the gladius of the Atlantic specimen are also shown (Roper & Young, 1972:208, fig. 1)
(?/?/1962) Partially digested head of a giant squid recovered from a sperm whale stomach in Durban, South Africa, in 1962; identified by Malcolm Clarke (see label). On display at the London Natural History Museum's Darwin Centre.
#240 (?/2/1980) Since 2009, the Plum Island specimen has been on loan to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, where it is on display in the Cold Water Quest Gallery
#383 (16/11/1997) First known specimen from the Mediterranean Sea, on display at the Museo Alborania in Málaga, Spain. Preserved in formaldehyde, it is an immature female with a mantle length of around 1.25m.
#383 (16/11/1997) An overview of the entire giant squid exhibit at Museo Alborania, as it appeared in 2016 (see also closeups of head and arms)
Specimen identified as Architeuthis sanctipauli exhibited on the first floor of the Global Environment Hall at the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, Taiwan. Measuring 8.84m in total length and weighing 240kg, it was captured in New Zealand waters and gifted by NIWA. It is said to be the world's largest specimen exhibited in a vertical position; the whole display including base, acrylic tank and formalin preservative weighs around 4 tonnes.[114]
Originating from New Zealand, this giant squid specimen (#407) measures 27 feet (8.2m) in total length and is preserved at Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. Nicknamed "Molly the Mollusk", it is one of only a handful of giant squid specimens on public display in the United States.
↑ Though see specimen #323 from Tottori Prefecture, Japan, which was reportedly still alive when found stranded in shallow water on 16 April 1988, where it was photographed in situ.[5]
↑ Though he considered the Berzin specimen a candidate for the "longest measured" giant squid total length, Paxton (2016a:86) thought the record "suspect because of the roundness of the figure, the lack of detailed measurements and because in an associated photo, the mantle (whose length was not given) does not look very large compared to the men in the image. Consequently the measurement, if accurate, would represent another animal with very long tentacles." The supposed 19m (62ft) total length of the Berzin specimen was later confirmed to be erroneous; according to Valentin Yukhov, who was involved in the specimen's discovery, it should have read 9m (30ft).[50] The misprint was reproduced in the English translation of Berzin's work, published the following year, and was later propagated in a number of papers on giant squid.[50]
1 2 3 Damaged by repeated freezing and thawing for public display. Main specimen eventually discarded but some remains may have been retained.[103]
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Aldrich, F.A. & M.M. Aldrich (1968). On regeneration of the tentacular arm of the giant squid Architeuthis dux Steenstrup (Decapoda, Architeuthidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology46(5): 845–847. doi:10.1139/z68-120, PMID5725463
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British newspaper article from 1918, speculating about possible encounters between giant squid and German U-boats. Reference is made to "fragments of squid" in such condition that the animals must have "been in battle with some adversary more powerful than any sea creature".
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Specimen from Newfoundland acquired by Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History in 1979 from the Memorial University of Newfoundland (YPM IZ 017964). Measurements taken from this specimen were used in the preparation of the life-sized giant squid model that currently hangs above the main entrance of the Peabody museum.
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(?/?/1999)
(?/?/1999)
A small (1 m ML; 30 kg) but fully mature male being examined by Steve O'Shea on 28 February 1999, during the "In Search of Giant Squid" expedition
#407 (15/3/1999)
#429 (27/1/2000)
#429 (27/1/2000)
#429 (27/1/2000)
#429 (27/1/2000)
#437 (20/10/2000)
#437 (20/10/2000)
Specimen identified as Architeuthis sanctipauli exhibited on the first floor of the Global Environment Hall at the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, Taiwan. Measuring 8.84 m in total length and weighing 240 kg, it was captured in New Zealand waters and gifted by NIWA. It is said to be the world's largest specimen exhibited in a vertical position; the whole display including base, acrylic tank and formalin preservative weighs around 4 tonnes. [114]
Preserved giant squid eye; together with that of the colossal squid it is the largest of any living animal
Giant squid beak with associated buccal musculature
A "giant squid" beak recovered from a sperm whale stomach in Durban, part of the Discovery Collections displayed during the "Monsters of the Deep" exhibition (July 2020 – January 2023) at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth [115] (see also label and wider exhibition)
