Talk:Colossal Squid

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[edit] Largest squid?

On comparison to Giant squid, which is listed as having a total length of 17-20m, how is the Collosal Squid the largest squid known? This article lists a total length of 6-12m.

I think the difference is in mantle length (not counting tentacles) versus total length—Colossal Squid have shorter tentacles but larger bodies. —No-One Jones (m) 03:22, 25 Sep 2004 (UTC)
I had the same question. I think this should be clarified in the files. --137.22.22.129 16:12, 18 Oct 2004 (UTC)
I had the same question too. Is mantle length different to body length? From the article: "Colossal Squid may have a body length of 4 metres and total length of around 12 metres" - looks like its tentacles account for three quarters of its length, or am I missing something?
8/12 = two-thirds. Be that as it may, I believe the Giant squid sizes to be incorrect, based upon [1], but also on [2]. I will endeavor to update the numbers to be more accurately descriptive. - UtherSRG 12:06, 26 Oct 2004 (UTC)
I added a small sentence at the end of the first paragraph about this. just something quick to clear up the dispute, as so not to confuse people. --Zeerus 20:12, Apr 8, 2005 (UTC)
Is that sentence entirely accurate? Now it says that the giant squid is bigger, which it really isn't, it's just a little longer if you include the tentacles. As far as actual mass of the creatures, the colossal squid is considerably bigger. -GamblinMonkey 15:52, 15 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Is the giant squid even longer if you include the tentacles? The diagrams illastrating compartive lengths linked to above (as well as on the BBC article today about the photographs of the giant squid[3]) all have the colossal squid larger in all three mesures. Dalf | Talk 01:45, 29 September 2005 (UTC)

In fact the largest kown giant squids with UNSTRETCHED tentacles were only about 13 in length, the longer specimens had overstreteched tentacles, making them much longer than they actually were. Even if the largest giant squids are a bit longer in complete length than the largest colossal squids, the colossal squids are much heaver. http://www.tonmo.com/science/public/giantsquidfacts.php —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 84.158.91.28 (talk • contribs) .

[edit] Largest invertebrate

There is a possibility that the colossal octopus at 30m is the largest invertebrate. Should this be mentioned? Joelloughead 28 June 2005 14:03 (UTC)

No, it's fictional. - UtherSRG June 29, 2005 18:30 (UTC)

You don't know that, though. It has not been proven, but it has not been disproiven either. On another note, since the Giant Squid is Architeuthis Dux, shouldn't the Collosal Squid (larger) be called something like Architeuthis Rex or, even better, Architeuthis Imperator? -Alex 12.220.157.93 04:56, 26 December 2005 (UTC)

No, the colossal octopus is fictional. As for your naming questions, again no; the Colossal Squid is in a different genus (Mesonychoteuthis) than the (up to 8) giant squid species (in genus Architeuthis. - UtherSRG (talk) 12:52, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Whatever. I still think "Architeuthis Imperator" sounds cooler. Anyway, as I said, you conservative northerner government types have never proven the nonexistance of any cryptids. True, no one has produced evidence of its existance either, but the fascist government-funded organization has never disporven anything, either. -Alex, Confederate 12.220.157.93 20:31, 5 January 2006 (UTC).

Can we also include the hyper colossal octopus, which is close to 7,000 m stem to stern? I don't know of any evidence of its existence yet, but it has not been disproven either. --Fxer 00:20, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

I'm not against it, but I'm not for it. If you put it on there, citing it as a rumor or something, that's okay...but the Colossal Octopus has at least some possible evidence, here: http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/coloct.htm. -Alex 12.220.157.93 01:22, 6 January 2006 (UTC).

the facts are that the estamated size of a fully grown female colossal squid is larger than anything we have ever seen in the invertabrate world, the one blobster found in florida that is suposed to be the colossal oct, may or may not be what they claim it to be, and since so little evidence supporting the c oct orther than the florida blob and the as yet unknown to science large oct beak found in the belly of one of the sleeper sharks caught recently, the colossal squid still stands as largeest invertabrate.--Manwithbrisk 21:49, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Captive? Two species?

A rather unclear reference is made to a captive specimen. http://www.tonmo.com/science/public/giantsquidfacts.php refers to two species. A female of one species (Kondakovia longimana) was kept in captivity till it died. This is not the species refered to in this article, though perhaps it should be mentioned here. Panzuriel 06:00, 29 September 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Recent edits

Nice job on the additions, XQ Fan, but now there are too many images squeezing the text. - UtherSRG (talk) 12:08, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

I have commented out all the images inserted by XQ Fan due to their disputed copyright status. See here for more. I think it is fair to leave them commented out (but not deleated) until XQ Fan replies. The bellman 23:33, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Naming

Why is this article named Colossal Squid where as it's Giant squid? Either this article or the giant squid article should be changed. I think using lower case is more in keeping with general wikipedia conventions. Thoughts? The bellman 23:45, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

Colossal Squid is one species. Giant squid is a genus. - UtherSRG (talk) 02:35, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 77%?

In the article, someone posted that "14% of the squid beaks found in the stomachs of these sperm whales are those of the Colossal Squid, which indicates that Colossal Squid make up 77% of the biomass consumed by these whales". Could you find a source for that? Because that seems really odd. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 162.83.106.9 (talk • contribs) .

Yeah, that definitely needs a source. I put {{citation needed}} on it. —Keenan Pepper 14:14, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Sorry about forgetting that citation, I've added it now. I got it from TONMO.com. Wowbobwow12 16:31, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Cool, thanks! —Keenan Pepper 18:00, 19 June 2006 (UTC)