Giant Squid

Scientific Name:
Architeuthis dux

Vernacular Names:
Es/Sp: Calamar gigante
Fr/Fr: Calmar géant
In/En: Giant squid

Local Names:
New Zealand: Giant squid
Norway: Kjempeblekksprut
Japan: Daiika
Various coastal regions: Giant squid

Commercial Names: Giant squid

Simile of International Trade: Rarely caught or traded; of scientific and curiosity value rather than commercial seafood importance

Fishing Season: No specific fishing season due to rarity; specimens typically recovered from deep-sea trawls or strandings occurring sporadically year-round.

Geographical Distribution: Circumglobal distribution in deep ocean waters, mostly near continental and island slopes. Concentrated in the North Atlantic (Newfoundland, Norway, British Isles, Azores), South Atlantic (southern Africa), North Pacific (Japan), southwestern Pacific (New Zealand, Australia), and the Southern Ocean. Rare in tropical and polar regions.

Habitat and Biology: Deepwater pelagic species residing mostly at depths between 300 and 1,000 meters (980–3,280 feet).

Length: Typical adult size up to 12–13 meters (around 40 feet) total length including tentacles; mantle length about 2 meters (6.6 feet). Weight estimates vary but can reach several hundred kilograms.