List of Giant Squid Specimens and Sightings - Size Considerations

Size Considerations

Giant squid size, and particularly total length, has often been misreported and exaggerated. Reports of specimens reaching or even exceeding 18 m (59 ft) in length are widespread, but no animals approaching this size have been scientifically documented in recent times, despite the hundreds of specimens available for study. It is now thought likely that such lengths were achieved by great lengthening of the two long feeding tentacles, analogous to stretching elastic bands, or resulted from improper measurement methods such as pacing (O'Shea & Bolstad, 2008).

Based on the examination of more than 130 specimens, as well as beaks recovered from sperm whales (which do not exceed the size of those found in the largest complete specimens), the giant squid is not known to attain a mantle length (ML) in excess of 2.25 m (7.4 ft) (O'Shea & Bolstad, 2008). Including the head and arms but excluding the tentacles, it very rarely exceeds 5 m (16 ft) (O'Shea & Bolstad, 2008). Maximum total length, when measured relaxed post mortem, is estimated at 13 m (43 ft) for females and 10 m (33 ft) for males, from the posterior end of the mantle and fins to the tip of the two long tentacles (O'Shea, 2003).

Giant squid exhibit sexual dimorphism. Maximum weight is estimated at 275 kg (610 lb) for females and 150 kg (330 lb) for males, though discredited weights of up to 1 tonne (2,200 lb) can be found in older literature (O'Shea, 2003).