In this article, a squid named Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni is described as “much bigger than the giant squid.”
???
Now, geeky as it sounds, I’m something of a fan of the Giant Squid (Architeuthis dux), and I’ve never heard of this usurper.
What gives? Is there any debate that they’re separate species? Is there any debate which one is larger? Why has the second largest, if this is indeed the case, gotten all the publicity?
From the descriptions, I wouldn’t want to share the surf with either. Something out of a nightmare I’d say.
I’ve seen footage on Nat’l Geographic Explorer (or perhaps Nova) of a diver in a shark cage filming another type of large squid, about 6 feet long (torso + arms) and they were agressive and scary - tried taking bites out of him while he was in the cage, he actually had to fend them off. The diver is familiar with these critters and said that if he wasn’t in the cage they’d attack and eat him.
This is the “Colossal Squid.” Only the 2nd one ever found intact. Here’s another article about it.
The main difference, other than size, is the weaponry on the tentacles. The Giant Squid only has the big suckers, but the Colossal Squid has giant tooth-like hooks buried within the muscle of the tentacles that can rotate 360° <!>
There’s some debate about the size of the body being bigger on the Colossal vs. the Giant Squid, also that the Giant Squid has longer tentacles, but most sites I’ve read are kinda conflicting about that. Basically, they don’t know much about the Giant Squid and even less about the Colossal.
Did you know that they don’t even have a picture of a Giant or Colossal Squid on record? I asked about that in GQ several months ago b/c I was so incredulous. I can’t wait to see all the freaky shit on the ocean floor that we know nothing about yet.