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The giant squid (
Architethis sp.) was for a long time considered to be the largest cephalopod.
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.
[edit] Mantle length
[edit] Octopoda (octopuses)
Haliphron atlanticus (ML: 0.69 m), the largest known octopus specimen.
[edit] 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) |
|
[edit] Sepiolida (bobtail squid)
| Species |
Maximum mantle length |
References |
Notes |
| Euprymna stenodactyla |
19 cm |
Okutani (1995) |
|
[edit] 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) |
|
[edit] Teuthida (squid)
Subadult female
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni caught in 2003.
| Species |
Maximum mantle length |
References |
Notes |
| Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni |
4 m (estimate) |
O'Shea (2005) |
No mature specimens examined. Estimate based on largest known beak (LRL: 48.0 mm). |
| Galiteuthis phyllura |
2.7 m (estimate) |
Nesis (1982) |
Estimate based on 40 cm long arm and 115 cm tentacle. |
| Architeuthis sp.† |
2.25 m |
O'Shea (2005) |
|
| Moroteuthis robusta |
2 m |
Norman (2000:174) |
Kudobera et al. (1998) gives 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) |
|
† 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.
[edit] Vampyromorphida (Vampire Squid)
Only one extant species.
[edit] Shell diameter
[edit] Octopoda (octopuses)
Females of the genus Argonauta produce a calcareous eggcase in which they reside. All extant species listed.
Argonauta hians shell, 121.5 mm in diameter.
‡ Species status questionable.
[edit] Nautilida (nautiluses)
All extant species listed.
Nautilus shells:
N. macromphalus (left),
A. scrobiculatus (centre),
N. pompilius (right).
[edit] 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.
Internal shell of
Spirula spirula.
| Species |
Maximum shell diameter |
References |
Notes |
| Spirula spirula |
28.8 mm |
[2] |
Pisor (2005:108) lists maximum shell diameter of 26.9 mm. |
[edit] Total length
[edit] Octopoda (octopuses)
Not to be confused with armspan, which is approximately double the total length.
[edit] Teuthida (squid)
Total length including long feeding tentacles.
A long arm squid (
Magnapinna sp.) filmed in the Gulf of Mexico.
| Species |
Maximum total length |
References |
Notes |
| Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni |
14 m (estimate) |
O'Shea (2005) |
No mature specimens examined. Estimate based on largest known beak (LRL: 48.0 mm). |
| Architeuthis sp. |
13 m (female) |
O'Shea (2005) |
Measured post mortem and relaxed. Older records were exaggerated by stretching of the tentacles. |
| Magnapinna sp. |
at least 8 m (estimate) |
Bolstad (2003) |
Estimate based on video evidence. |
[edit] Weight
[edit] Octopoda (octopuses)
North Pacific Giant Octopus,
Enteroctopus dofleini.
| Species |
Maximum weight |
References |
Notes |
| Haliphron atlanticus |
75 kg (estimate) |
O'Shea (2004) |
Estimate based on incomplete 61.0 kg specimen. |
[edit] 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) |
|
[edit] Teuthida (squid)
| Species |
Maximum weight |
References |
Notes |
| Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni |
? |
|
The largest known specimen, an immature female caught in 2003, weighed approximately 150 kg. |
| Architeuthis sp. |
275 kg (female) |
O'Shea (2005) |
|
[edit] Extinct taxa
[edit] Ammonoidea (ammonites)
Cast of the 1.95 m
Parapuzosia seppenradensis specimen.
| 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. |
[edit] Belemnoidea (belemnites)
| Species |
Maximum rostrum length |
References |
Notes |
| Megateuthis gigantea |
46 cm |
Eyden (2003) |
The whole belemnite is estimated to have been 4-5 m long. |
[edit] Nautiloidea (nautiloids)
| Species |
Maximum shell length |
References |
Notes |
| Cameroceras sp. |
11 m (estimate) |
|
|
[edit] References
- Bolsatd, K. 2003. Deep-Sea Cephalopods: An Introduction and Overview. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
- Eyden, P. 2003. Belemnites: A Quick Look. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
- 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. (Russian) [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.]
- 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. 2005. 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.
- Tsuchiya, K. & T. Okutani. 1993. Rare and interesting squids in Japan -X. Recent occurrences of big squids from Okinawa. Venus 52: 299-311.
