lauttimur.com - Far below the surface of the ocean swims a mysterious behemoth of the deep: the Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni). There is still much that we do not know about this peculiar giant, and yet it continues to capture our imaginations like no other sea creature on earth, astounding us with its many secrets. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about this species:

Read also: Colossal Squid Appearance and Behavior

1.    They are the heaviest squid
While its cousin, the giant squid, has measured longer, the colossal squid is the heaviest. They are thought to weigh up to 700kg and grow as long as 10 meters . 

2.    It’s not the meanest fish in the sea
Although Colossal Squid is gigantic creature, they are not as feracious predator as we think. The Colossal squid are thought to be major prey for sperm whales in particular, which are the largest of the toothed whales, which can reach over 20m in length.

3.    The colossal squid’s eyes are as large as a basketball
The largest eyes on the planet didn’t evolve for finding prey in the dark. It seems like they’ve evolved to be 27cm in diameter in order to adapt to spotting sperm whales descending to the deep. They regularly enter the territory of the deep-sea monsters and it’s suspected they can incapacitate them with a powerful sonic shockwave.

Read also: Who Is Colossal Squid Predator?

4.    Their eggs are tiny
For such a gargantuan creature, the colossal squid makes some tiny eggs. They’re about 3mm across and float about in the ocean, the eggs is hatching in shallow water. It’s thought that female colossal squids can produce up to 4.2 million of eggs.

5.    They’re a product of abyssal gigantism
When invertebrates inhabit deep-sea environments they have a tendency to get big. There are a few proposed reasons for this. First of all, it’s really quite chilly down there, and the larger you are, the less heat you lose to your surroundings. 

Another product of a cold environment is slower maturation; most animals only grow until they’re big enough to breed – maybe a little more – and stop soon after. If the cold temperatures delay sexual maturity, it can possibly lead to a much larger animal.

Perhaps paradoxically, sometimes a lack of food selects for a larger animal. In the ocean, you have to be quite big to be powerful enough to swim long distances.

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