9,755
edits
Difference between revisions of "Colossal squid"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
Westarctica (talk | contribs) |
Westarctica (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
The squid's known range extends thousands of kilometers north of [[Antarctica]] to southern South America, southern South Africa, and the southern tip of New Zealand, making it primarily an inhabitant of the entire circumantarctic [[Southern Ocean]]. | The squid's known range extends thousands of kilometers north of [[Antarctica]] to southern South America, southern South Africa, and the southern tip of New Zealand, making it primarily an inhabitant of the entire circumantarctic [[Southern Ocean]]. | ||
Little is known about the life of this creature, but it is believed to feed on prey such as chaetognatha, large fish such as the | Little is known about the life of this creature, but it is believed to feed on prey such as chaetognatha, large fish such as the Patagonian toothfish, and other squid in the deep ocean using bioluminescence. A recent study by Remeslo, Yakushev and Laptikhovsky revealed that [[Antarctic toothfish]] make up a significant part of the colossal squid's diet; of the 8,000 toothfish brought aboard trawlers between 2011 and 2014, 71 showed clear signs of attack by colossal squid. The colossal squid is thought to have a slow metabolic rate, needing only around 30 grams (1.1 oz) of prey daily for an adult with a mass of 500 kilogram (1102 lbs). Estimates of its energy requirements suggest it is a slow-moving ambush predator, using its large eyes primarily for prey detection rather than engaging in active hunting. | ||
Based on capture depths of a few specimens, and beaks found in [[sperm whale]] stomachs, the adult colossal squid ranges at least to a depth of 2.2 km (7,200 ft), and juveniles can go as deep as 1 km (3,300 ft). It is believed to be sexually dimorphic, with mature females generally being much larger than mature males, as is common in many species of invertebrates. | Based on capture depths of a few specimens, and beaks found in [[sperm whale]] stomachs, the adult colossal squid ranges at least to a depth of 2.2 km (7,200 ft), and juveniles can go as deep as 1 km (3,300 ft). It is believed to be sexually dimorphic, with mature females generally being much larger than mature males, as is common in many species of invertebrates. | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
The squid's method of reproduction has not been observed, although some data on their reproduction can be inferred from anatomy. Since males lack an organ called a hectocotylus (an arm used in other cephalopods to transfer a spermatophore to the female), they probably use a penis instead, which would be used to directly implant sperm into females. | The squid's method of reproduction has not been observed, although some data on their reproduction can be inferred from anatomy. Since males lack an organ called a hectocotylus (an arm used in other cephalopods to transfer a spermatophore to the female), they probably use a penis instead, which would be used to directly implant sperm into females. | ||
Many sperm whales have scars on their backs, believed to be caused by the hooks of colossal squid. Colossal squid are a major prey item for sperm whales in the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]]; 14% of the squid beaks found in the stomachs of these sperm whales are those of the colossal squid, which indicates that colossal squid make up 77% of the biomass consumed by these whales. Many other animals also feed on colossal squid, including beaked whales (such as the southern bottlenose whale), pilot whales, [[southern elephant seal]]s, | Many sperm whales have scars on their backs, believed to be caused by the hooks of colossal squid. Colossal squid are a major prey item for sperm whales in the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]]; 14% of the squid beaks found in the stomachs of these sperm whales are those of the colossal squid, which indicates that colossal squid make up 77% of the biomass consumed by these whales. Many other animals also feed on colossal squid, including beaked whales (such as the southern bottlenose whale), pilot whales, [[southern elephant seal]]s, Patagonian toothfish, [[sleeper shark]]s (''Somniosus antarcticus''), and albatrosses (e.g., the wandering and sooty albatrosses). However, beaks from mature adults have only been recovered from large predators (i.e. sperm whales and sleeper sharks), while the other predators only eat juveniles or young adults. | ||
==History of sightings== | ==History of sightings== | ||