From the time men have sailed the seas, they have described this mystifying creature and mostly talked about as a sea monster in epic proportions, but nothing concrete was known about squids for they were rarely seen. Until recently the Japanese Marine Biologists whose years of painstaking hard work paid off in the end when they managed to film live, the elusive giant squid in its natural habitat

Further studies revealed more of giant squid’s features and habits. There are two giant squid types-

Architeuthis dux: this is the most commonly known as the giant squid. Around 200 corpses found, that were washed offshore, caught in nets or found in the bellies of sperm whales gives us the complete picture of this giant squid. The actual size is the most debated issue, which is misreported and mostly exaggerated.

The giant male squid is estimated to reach its maximum size of 10 meters (33ft) and of females 13 meters (43 ft). Of the whole body the more prominent are the largest eyes in the animal kingdom. It has eight arms with two rows of suckers and two feeding tentacles.

The main body or the mantle has most of the organs including brain with well developed nervous system, fins on the either side of the body and the mouth resembling parrot’s beak. They are known to live in the deepest ocean.

Mesonychoteuthis Hamiltoni or Colossal squid: is larger and heavier than the giant squid. Very few evidences (specimens) are available to give you the complete idea of Colossal Squids. With the available sources scientists estimate its size to be 12-14 meters (39-46 feet long) making it the largest known vertebrate.

It differs from giant squid in respect to some features, like arms and tentacles equipped with sharp hooks and not suckers. Their body is longer, stouter and heavier than giant squid. Unlike giant squids they have longer mantle and shorter tentacles.