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EspañolCEPHALOPOD SIZE
The giant squid (''Architeuthis'' sp.) was for a long time thought to be the largest extant cephalopod. It is now known that the Colossal Squid (''Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni'') attains an even greater size.
'Size' has been one of the most interesting aspects of cephalopod science to the general public. This article lists the largest cephalopods from various groups, sorted in order of mantle length, total length, weight, and shell diameter. Extinct taxa are also included.
Note: Measurements are listed as they appear in the cited references and original units are retained.
| Contents |
| Mantle length |
| Total length |
| Weight |
| Shell diameter |
| Extinct taxa |
| References |
Mantle length
''Haliphron atlanticus'' (ML: 0.69 m), the largest known octopus specimen.
The Colossal Squid (''Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni'') caught in early 2007 is the largest cephalopod ever recorded.
| Octopoda (octopuses) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Maximum mantle length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Haliphron atlanticus'' | 0.69 m | O'Shea (2004) | |||
| ''Enteroctopus dofleini'' | 60 cm | Norman (2000:214) | |||
| Sepiida (cuttlefish) | |||||
| Species | Maximum mantle length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Sepia apama'' | 500 mm | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:68) | |||
| ''Sepia latimanus'' | 500 mm | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:92) | |||
| ''Sepia officinalis'' | 490 mm | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:99) | |||
| ''Sepia pharaonis'' | 420 mm | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:107) | |||
| Sepiolida (bobtail squid) | |||||
| Species | Maximum mantle length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Euprymna stenodactyla'' | 19 cm | Okutani (1995) | |||
| Spirulida (Ram's Horn Squid) (only one extant species) | |||||
| Species | Maximum mantle length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Spirula spirula'' | rarely exceeds 45 mm | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:211) | |||
| Teuthida (squid) | |||||
| Species | Maximum mantle length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni'' | 4 m (estimate) | O'Shea (2005a) | Estimate based on largest known beak (LRL: 48.0 mm). | ||
| ''Galiteuthis phyllura'' | 265-275 cm (estimate) | Nesis (1985) | Estimate based on 40 cm long arm and 115 cm tentacle. | ||
| ''Architeuthis'' sp.† | 2.25 m | O'Shea (2005a) | |||
| ''Moroteuthis robusta'' | 2 m | Norman (2000:174) | Kubodera ''et al.'' (1998) give maximum of at least 1615 mm. | ||
| ''Megalocranchia fisheri'' | 1800 mm | Tsuchiya & Okutani (1993) | |||
| ''Taningia danae'' | 170 cm | Nesis (1982) | |||
| ''Dosidicus gigas'' | 1.5 m | Norman (2000:165) | |||
| ''Kondakovia longimana'' | probably 1150+ mm (estimate) | O'Shea (2005b) | Longest confirmed specimen measures 850 mm (O'Shea, 2005b). Total length to at least 230 cm (Carrington, 2000). | ||
| ''Thysanoteuthis rhombus'' | 100 cm | Roper ''et al.'' (1984) | Commonly grows to a mantle length of 60 cm (Roper ''et al.'', 1984). | ||
| Vampyromorphida (Vampire Squid) (only one extant species) | |||||
| Species | Maximum mantle length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Vampyroteuthis infernalis'' | 13 cm | Nesis (1982) | |||
† The taxonomy of the giant squid has not been entirely resolved. Lumpers and splitters may propose as many as eight species or as few as one. No genetic or physical basis for distinguishing between the named species has been proposed.
Total length
A long-arm squid (cf.''Magnapinna'') filmed in the Gulf of Mexico.
| Octopoda (octopuses) Not to be confused with armspan, which is approximately double the total length. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Maximum total length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Enteroctopus dofleini'' | > 6.1 m | Cosgrove (1987) | |||
| ''Haliphron atlanticus'' | 4 m (estimate) | O'Shea (2004) | Estimate based on incomplete 2.90 m specimen. | ||
| Teuthida (squid) Total length including long feeding tentacles. | |||||
| Species | Maximum total length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni'' | 14 m (estimate) | O'Shea (2005a) | Estimate based on largest known beak (LRL: 48.0 mm). | ||
| ''Architeuthis'' sp. | 13 m (female) | O'Shea (2005a) | Measured ''post mortem'' and relaxed. Older records were exaggerated by stretching of the tentacles (O'Shea, 2005a). | ||
| cf.''Magnapinna'' | at least 8 m (estimate) | Bolstad (2003) | Estimate based on video evidence. | ||
| ''Asperoteuthis acanthoderma'' | 5.5 m | Tsuchiya & Okutani (1993) | Length of immature specimen measuring 45 cm ML. Largest known specimen (78 cm ML) would presumably be longer if it were complete (Okutani, 1995). | ||
| ''Moroteuthis robusta'' | over 4 m | Verrill (1876) | |||
| ''Galiteuthis phyllura'' | over 4 m (estimate) | Nesis (1985) | Estimate based on 40 cm long arm and 115 cm tentacle. | ||
Weight
North Pacific Giant Octopus, ''Enteroctopus dofleini''.
| Octopoda (octopuses) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Maximum weight | References | Notes | ||
| ''Haliphron atlanticus'' | 75 kg (estimate) | O'Shea (2004) | Estimate based on incomplete 61.0 kg specimen. | ||
| ''Enteroctopus dofleini'' | 71 kg | Cosgrove (1987) | Weight of live specimen. There exists a highly dubious record of a 272 kg specimen (High, 1976). | ||
| Sepiida (cuttlefish) | |||||
| Species | Maximum weight | References | Notes | ||
| ''Sepia apama'' | in excess of 10.5 kg | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:68) | |||
| ''Sepia latimanus'' | 10 kg | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:92) | |||
| ''Sepia pharaonis'' | 5 kg | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:107) | |||
| ''Sepia officinalis'' | 4 kg | Reid ''et al.'' (2005:99) | |||
| Teuthida (squid) | |||||
| Species | Maximum weight | References | Notes | ||
| ''Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni'' | 495 kg | [Anonymous] (2007) | Weight of mature specimen caught in early 2007. Originally estimated to weigh 450 kg (Anderton, 2007). | ||
| ''Architeuthis'' sp. | 275 kg (female) | O'Shea (2005a) | |||
Shell diameter
''Argonauta hians'' shell, 121.5 mm in diameter.
Internal shell of ''Spirula spirula''.
| Nautilida (nautiluses) (all extant species listed) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Maximum shell diameter | References | Notes | ||
| ''Nautilus pompilius pompilius'' | 268 mm | [1] | Pisor (2005:93) lists maximum shell diameter of 254.0 mm. ''Nautilus repertus'' is treated here in synonymy with ''N. pompilius pompilius''. Pisor (2005:93) lists 230.0 mm record for ''N. repertus''. | ||
| ''Nautilus belauensis'' | 226 mm | Jereb (2005:54) | |||
| ''Allonautilus scrobiculatus'' | 215.0 mm | Pisor (2005:93) | |||
| ''Nautilus stenomphalus'' | 201.0 mm | Pisor (2005:93) | |||
| ''Allonautilus perforatus'' | around 180 mm | Jereb (2005:55) | |||
| ''Nautilus macromphalus'' | 180.0 mm | Pisor (2005:93) | |||
| ''Nautilus pompilius suluensis'' | 148.0 mm | Pisor (2005:93) | |||
| Octopoda (octopuses) (all extant ''Argonauta'' species listed) Females of the genus ''Argonauta'' produce a calcareous eggcase in which they reside. | |||||
| Species | Maximum shell diameter | References | Notes | ||
| ''Argonauta argo'' | 300.0 mm | Pisor (2005:12) | |||
| ''Argonauta nodosa'' | 292.0 mm | Pisor (2005:12) | |||
| ''Argonauta pacifica''‡ | 220.0 mm | Pisor (2005:12) | |||
| ''Argonauta hians'' | 121.5 mm | Pisor (2005:12) lists maximum shell diameter of 112.6 mm. | |||
| ''Argonauta cornuta''‡ | 98.6 mm | Pisor (2005:12) | |||
| ''Argonauta nouryi'' | 95.5 mm | Pisor (2005:12) | |||
| ''Argonauta bottgeri'' | 67.0 mm | Pisor (2005:12) | |||
| Spirulida (Ram's Horn Squid) (only one extant species) The Ram's Horn Squid possesses a chambered internal shell, which it uses for buoyancy control. | |||||
| Species | Maximum shell diameter | References | Notes | ||
| ''Spirula spirula'' | 28.8 mm | [2] | Pisor (2005:108) lists maximum shell diameter of 26.9 mm. | ||
‡ Species status questionable.
Extinct taxa
Cast of the 1.95 m ''Parapuzosia seppenradensis'' specimen.
| Ammonoidea (ammonites) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Maximum shell diameter | References | Notes | ||
| ''Parapuzosia seppenradensis'' | 2.55 m (estimate) | Kennedy & Kaplan (1995) | Estimate based on 1.95 m diameter specimen with an incomplete living chamber. | ||
| Belemnoidea (belemnites) | |||||
| Species | Maximum rostrum length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Megateuthis gigantea'' | 46 cm | Eyden (2003) | The whole belemnite is estimated to have been 3-5 m long. | ||
| Nautiloidea (nautiloids) | |||||
| Species | Maximum shell length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Cameroceras'' sp. | 11 m (estimate) | ||||
| Vampyromorphida (vampire squid) | |||||
| Species | Maximum mantle length | References | Notes | ||
| ''Tusoteuthis longa'' | over 1.8 m (estimate) | Eyden (2004) | |||
References
★ [Anonymous] 2007. Colossal squid may be headed for oven. Associated Press.
★ Anderton, H.J. 2007. Amazing specimen of world's largest squid in NZ. New Zealand Government website.
★ Bolstad, K. 2003. Deep-Sea Cephalopods: An Introduction and Overview. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
★ Carrington, D. 2000. Big squid breaks record. ''BBC News'', July 3, 2000.
★ Cosgrove, J.A. 1987. Aspects of the Natural History of ''Octopus dofleini'', the Giant Pacific Octopus. M.Sc. Thesis. Department of Biology, University of Victoria (Canada), 101 pp.
★ Eyden, P. 2003. Belemnites: A Quick Look. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
★ Eyden, P. 2004. Cretaceous Giant Squid. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
★ High, W.L. 1976. The giant Pacific octopus. ''U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Fisheries Review'' '38'(9): 17-22.
★ Jereb, P. 2005. Family Nautilidae. ''In'': P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. ''Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and Illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae)''. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 51–55.
★ Kennedy, W.J. & U. Kaplan 1995. ''Parapuzosia (Parapuzosia) seppenradensis'' (LANDOIS) und die Ammoniten fauna der Dülmener Schichten, Westfalen. ''Geol. Paläont. Westf.'' '33': 127 p., 43 pls.
★ Kubodera, T., U. Piatkowski, T. Okutani & M.R. Clarke. 1998. Taxonomy and Zoogeography of the Family Onychoteuthidae (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida). ''Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology'' '586': 277-291.
★ Nesis, K.N. 1982. ''Abridged key to the cephalopod mollusks of the world's ocean''. Light and Food Industry Publishing House, Moscow. 385+ii pp. [Translated into English by B. S. Levitov, ed. by L. A. Burgess 1987. ''Cephalopods of the world''. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, NJ. 351pp.]
★ Nesis, K.N. 1985. A Giant Squid in the Sea of Okhotsk. ''Priroda'' '10': 112-113. [Translated from Russian by Yuri Nektorenko.]
★ Norman, M.D. 2000. ''Cephalopods: A World Guide''. ConchBooks.
★ Norman, M.D. & A. Reid 2000. ''A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopuses of Australasia''. CSIRO Publishing.
★ Okutani, T. 1995. ''Cuttlefish and squids of the world in color''. Publication for the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the National Cooperative Association of Squid Processors. 185 pp.
★ O'Shea, S. 2004. The giant octopus ''Haliphron atlanticus'' (Mollusca : Octopoda) in New Zealand waters. ''New Zealand Journal of Zoology'' '31'(1): 7-13.
★ O'Shea, S. 2005a. Giant Squid and Colossal Squid Fact Sheet. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
★ O'Shea, S. 2005b. ''Kondakovia longimana''. In: Giant Squid and Colossal Squid Fact Sheet. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
★ Pisor, D.L. 2005. ''Registry of World Record Size Shells: Fourth Edition - 2005''. Snail's Pace Productions and ConchBooks.
★ Reid, A., P. Jereb, & C.F.E. Roper 2005. Family Sepiidae. ''In:'' P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. ''Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae)''. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 57–152.
★ Roper C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney & C.E. Nauen 1984. ''Cephalopods of the world''. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
★ Tsuchiya, K. & T. Okutani. 1993. Rare and interesting squids in Japan -X. Recent occurrences of big squids from Okinawa. ''Venus'' '52': 299-311.
★ Verrill, A.E. 1876. Notes on gigantic cephalopods, a correction. ''American Journal of Science and Arts'' '12'(3): 236-237.
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