How Big Do Giant Squids Get?

They’ve mystified and terrified sailors for centuries. And now, there’s new proof that the unimaginably large ‘giant squids’ of the deep do exist. Late last year incredible footage captured in Japan shows what appears to be a giant squid swimming on the surface of the ocean. The event took place in Toyama Bay, a popular seaside town on the west coast of Japan. While the creature measured in at around 12 feet, marine biologists believe that it’s still a juvenile. When fully mature, giant squids can grow up to 43 feet in length.

Local dive shop owner Akinobu Kimura was quick to embrace an opportunity to swim with the rare cephalopod. He grabbed his GoPro and dove straight in to record this footage he’s since posted on YouTube. Watch it here: https://ilmt.co/PL/qlRx

"This squid was not damaged and looked lively, spurting ink and trying to entangle his tentacles around me," recalls Kimura in an interview with CNN. "I guided the squid toward to the ocean, several hundred meters from the area it was found in, and it disappeared into the deep sea."

Giant squids continue to stump marine scientists

It’s unclear why the squid ended up in Toyama Bay, and scientists have little to work with as research into the behaviour and physiology of the mysterious creatures is minimal. So much so that up until 2012 footage of the species in its natural habitat was non-existent. While the biggest giant squid ever officially recorded by scientists is 43 feet, there are plenty of people who believe that the giants of the deep can get monstrous in size.

Fake or factual?

This is largely fuelled by old pirate’s tales, as well as controversial hoaxes such as the cleverly Photoshopped image of a mammoth 160-foot-long giant squid that appeared to be beached on a Californian pier. Publishers claimed it was a victim of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, with the image quickly going viral on social media. It was soon cleared as fraudulent, however it sparked very real debate over whether or not squids the size of sailing ships really do exist.  

Marine biology is a fascinating field, with scientists continually making exciting new discoveries that revolutionise theories about deep-sea life. For more insight, ‘Marine Scientists Return with Rare Creatures from the Deep - Aberdeen University’ sheds light on 10 possible new species that were recently discovered during a research trip to the Atlantic Ocean.

Image via Flickr Creative Commons. Photo credits: etee