Giant Squid [Architeuthis dux]
Description
The giant squid is one of the largest known invertebrates, can grow up to 43 feet in length and can weigh up to 600 kilograms. It lives in the deep ocean and is known for its enormous size, including its large tentacles equipped with suckers lined with sharp, finely serrated rings of chitin. The species is elusive and rarely observed, making its behavior and ecology largely unknown. It is believed to be a solitary creature, with juveniles and adults likely leading largely independent lives.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Squids, Octopuses, and Cuttlefish
Cephalopoda
|
| Order |
Squids
Teuthida
|
| Family |
Architeuthids
Architeuthidae
|
| Genus |
Giant Squid
Architeuthis
|