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Giant squid |
| Living in water
Water helps hold up the weight of this squid. It can grow to 2-3 metres long and up to 3 metres across. To jet away from enemies, it squirts water out of its funnel. Sperm whales like eating giant squid! Fish and other squid are the giant squid's food. The giant squid does not have the two long tentacles its relatives use to catch their food. It has eight arms with cat-like claws. |
 Arm of a giant squid How would the little claws help the squid? Photo: The Advertiser |
| It is dark, deep under water
This animal can live a kilometre under water, where it is quite dark. Two of its arms have tips which can glow in the dark and attract prey. It also has large eyes to recognise other squid and animals with light organs that glow. |
Little is known about the habits of this animal.
Scientists think that it mates near the sea floor. Its eggs are probably attached to the bottom of the ocean.
Humans do not cause problems for the giant squid, unless over-fishing reduces its food supply.
The giant squid
- uses water to hold up its big body
- can drink seawater
- catches food with its arms
- has glowing tips on two arms.
 Vegetation
Bull kelp Bull kelp lives in water. Like the giant squid, this plant is supported by water. It uses air spaces trapped in its long fronds to help stay afloat near the light zone. Holdfasts or suction caps attached to rocks prevent the bull kelp from being washed away by wave and tidal action. Bull kelp is harvested in Chile and used in cooking as a sea vegetable. |