These guys mainly spend their life on the bottom of the ocean floor. Adult giant squid come to breed in New Zealand waters, females can grow 13 m tentacle to tail and can weigh 300kg. Their huge eyes can be 30 cm accross, are designed so that they can pick up large flashes of light created by other fish in the deep waters. This creature has the largest eyes of any living thing, bar the colossal squid.
This giant squid measured about 8m in length, and is thought to have been attacked by another squid because of the bite marks it had near its head. This squid had 8 arms and 2 huge tentacles. Each arm is lined with hundreds of suction cups varying in size, each of these cups has its own teeth which help the squid to latch onto its prey. The giant squid is the main prey of the sperm whale, which often has visible scars created by these suction units. The giant squid catch their prey by using their 2 huge tentacles.
These giant squid can be found in most oceans of the world. From the northern British Isles, and northern Atlantic, through to the Southern Atlantic around the coasts of South Africa. They can be found in the North Pacific around waters of Japan, through to the Western Pacific around New Zealand. First photographs of these creatures alive were produced in 2004 and video in 2006.
It was like something had landed. This creature was incredible, beautiful yet grotesque to look at. I thought about what it must have seen through its huge eyes, which type of encounters in the deep it must of had. The way the creature was put together was amazing. Not many people have had the opportunity to see these creatures dead or alive, so today was a very special day. The giant squid was being kept in the Kaikoura aquarium, where many children and adults throughout the day have been able to view, touch, and smell this alien of the ocean. Although unfortunately this creature had died, it will and has created alot of excitement amongst the community. Preserving this giant squid will mean that lots of people get to learn about this inctedible creature and be inspired to learn more about, and explore our oceans.
Aliens really do exist!
Hi Jen, your blog has INSPIRED the Children of class 3A and they have thought up some questions that we hope you'll be able to answer. You could perhaps answer them with a short paragraph or how ever you want to.
ReplyDeletecheers. :)
Questions from class 3A.
1. Have you seen any baby dolphins or whales? (Kirsten)
2. Have you seen any killer whales hunting? (Phoebe)
3. What size are whales brains? (Alex)
4. What is your favourite sea creature? (Evie)
5. How many different whales and dolphins have you seen?
6. How high can dolphins jump? (Alex)
7. Have you caught or seen any sharks? (Samuel M)
8. How long have you been in New Zealand? (Katie)
9. What colour are the boats? (Josh T)
10. Have you seen a humpback whale? (Owen M)
11. What different sizes are the whales? (Charlie)
12. How many boats are there? (Stuart B)
13. How many hours do you work a day? (Alex D)
14. What is the busiest day? (Joe)
15. What species of dolphin have you seen? (Samuel V)
16. What colours can the dolphins be? (Alex)
17. Have you got any pets? (Mollie M)
18. Have you been scuba diving? (Sam K)
19. Do you name the animals?
20. What was is like finding the squid? (Kirsten)
21. What are the visitors on the boat like? (Katie M)
22. How big are the boats?
23. What sorts of food do you eat in New Zealand? (Josh T)
24. Have you seen any other wildlife? (Samuel M)
25. What’s your favourite whale? (Blake M)
26. Have you seen any types of fish have you seen? (Callum H)
27. Have you seen any starfish? (Lorna O)
28. Have you been in the water with any dolphins? Grace B)
29. What colour was the giant squid? (Evie F)