Rare giant squid washed up on the beach

Giant squid (Chief architect), the deep-sea creature that inspired the legendary Kraken monster, is rarely seen. The first footage of them was recorded just a decade ago and very few specimens have been found, alive or dead. Giant squids are the largest invertebrates alive on Earth, females can be up to 13 m long while males are about 10 m long. The Cantabrian Sea in northern Spain is one of the few places where giant squids live, attracting special attention from any scientist who wants to study these reclusive animals.

“Giant squid have obvious sexual dimorphism. Researchers estimate the maximum weight of females is 312 kg and that of males is 178 kg,” Newsweek quoted Luis Laria, president of the coordinating council for research and protection of marine animals (CEPESMA). “Males have a shorter lifespan than females and mature earlier. They have a lifespan of about a year and females live 2-3 times longer.”

Although harmless to humans, giant squid cannot be used as food like their smaller relatives. That’s because their muscle mass has high levels of very toxic ammonia. CEPESMA operates a giant squid museum dedicated to preserving and studying specimens washed ashore.

The fate of the squid that washed up on El Sablón beach has not been decided. Asturias environmental technicians removed the animal’s body not long after its discovery. Authorities will decide whether to transfer it to CEPESMA or not in the next few days.

Giant squid live at great depths below the ocean’s surface, often up to hundreds of meters, where light can barely reach. They hunt with two long tentacles that help them grasp and put food into their beak-like mouth, according to National Geographic. Their diet includes fish, shrimp and other squid species. Some experts say they can even knock down and eat small whales. The giant squid’s eyes are among the largest in the animal kingdom with a diameter of 25 cm. This large organ allows them to detect objects and prey in dark environments.