If yesterday’s blog about the colossal squid found in the Antarctic Ocean peaked your curiosity about these bizarre, enormous creatures of the deep, read on. Today’s blog will fill you in on a few more cool details about these mammoth critters, and of course another cool scientific discovery from the deep! So what’s the scoop on colossal squid? Well, they are the largest of all known squids, growing up to 14 meters (over 40 feet) long as adults. They are different from the more familiar “giant squid” in several ways. They are, of course, larger than giant squid (I guess the name gives that away!). Another difference is that giant squid have suction cups with small teeth on their giant arms. Colossal squid, on the other hand, have super-sharp hooks that swivel back and forth. Youwch!! Wouldn’t want a pat on the back from one of those limbs!

Colossal squid eat large fish, and even other colossal squid! But what feeds on these giant, well-armed animals? You’ll be surprised to learn how many ocean creatures find the colossal squid to be a tasty treat! Sperm whales love to munch on these fellows. The sharp hooks on the squid arms have been found stuck in the bodies of many sperm whales. Can you imaging what a fight that would be between these two titans of the deep? This is probably where all the tales of giant sea monsters came from when ships crossed the oceans hundreds of years ago! In fact, this is how the colossal squid was first discovered in 1925.Two giants squid arms were found in the belly of a sperm whale!  A new scientific discovery has shown that sharks like to munch on colossal squid too—specifically sleeper sharks. What is amazing here is that the sharks are half the size of the colossal squid! Strange, but true. Scientists in France were recently studying the guts of three dozen sleeper sharks, which fishing boats had accidentally scooped up. What did they find? 49 colossal squids! Hmm, I think I’ll stick to tuna sandwiches myself!