Cephalopod size

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The giant squid (Architeuthis sp.) was for a long time thought to be the largest extant cephalopod. It is now known that the Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) attains an even greater size.
The giant squid (Architeuthis sp.) was for a long time thought to be the largest extant cephalopod. It is now known that the Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) attains an even greater size.

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.

Note: Measurements are listed as they appear in the cited references and original units are retained.

Contents

[edit] Mantle length

Haliphron atlanticus (ML: 0.69 m), the largest known octopus specimen.
Haliphron atlanticus (ML: 0.69 m), the largest known octopus specimen.
The Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) caught in early 2007 is the largest cephalopod ever recorded.
The Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) caught in early 2007 is the largest cephalopod ever recorded.
Octopoda (octopuses)
Species Maximum mantle length References Notes
Haliphron atlanticus 0.69 m O'Shea (2004)
Enteroctopus dofleini 60 cm Norman (2000:214)
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)
Sepiolida (bobtail squid)
Species Maximum mantle length References Notes
Euprymna stenodactyla 19 cm Okutani (1995)
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)
Teuthida (squid)
Species Maximum mantle length References Notes
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni 4 m (estimate) O'Shea (2005a) Estimate based on largest known beak (LRL: 49 mm).
Galiteuthis phyllura 265-275 cm (estimate) Nesis (1985) Estimate based on 40 cm long arm and 115 cm tentacle.
Architeuthis sp.† 2.25 m O'Shea (2005a)
Moroteuthis robusta 2 m Norman (2000:174) Kubodera et al. (1998) give 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)
Kondakovia longimana probably 1150+ mm (estimate) O'Shea (2005b) Longest confirmed specimen measures 850 mm (O'Shea, 2005b). Total length to at least 230 cm (Carrington, 2000).
Thysanoteuthis rhombus 100 cm Roper et al. (1984) Commonly grows to a mantle length of 60 cm (Roper et al., 1984).
Vampyromorphida (Vampire Squid) (only one extant species)
Species Maximum mantle length References Notes
Vampyroteuthis infernalis 13 cm Nesis (1982)

† 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] Total length

A long-arm squid (cf.Magnapinna) filmed in the Gulf of Mexico.
A long-arm squid (cf.Magnapinna) filmed in the Gulf of Mexico.
Octopoda (octopuses)
Not to be confused with armspan, which is approximately double the total length.
Species Maximum total length References Notes
Enteroctopus dofleini > 6.1 m Cosgrove (1987)
Haliphron atlanticus 4 m (estimate) O'Shea (2004) Estimate based on incomplete 2.90 m specimen.
Teuthida (squid)
Total length including long feeding tentacles.
Species Maximum total length References Notes
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni 14 m (estimate) O'Shea (2005a) Estimate based on largest known beak (LRL: 49 mm).
Architeuthis sp. 13 m (female) O'Shea (2005a) Measured post mortem and relaxed. Older records were exaggerated by stretching of the tentacles (O'Shea, 2005a).
cf.Magnapinna at least 8 m (estimate) Bolstad (2003) Estimate based on video evidence.
Asperoteuthis acanthoderma 5.5 m Tsuchiya & Okutani (1993) Length of immature specimen measuring 45 cm ML. Largest known specimen (78 cm ML) would presumably be longer if it were complete (Okutani, 1995).
Moroteuthis robusta over 4 m Verrill (1876)
Galiteuthis phyllura over 4 m (estimate) Nesis (1985) Estimate based on 40 cm long arm and 115 cm tentacle.

[edit] Weight

North Pacific Giant Octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini.
North Pacific Giant Octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini.
Octopoda (octopuses)
Species Maximum weight References Notes
Haliphron atlanticus 75 kg (estimate) O'Shea (2004) Estimate based on incomplete 61.0 kg specimen.
Enteroctopus dofleini 71 kg Cosgrove (1987) Weight of live specimen. There exists a highly dubious record of a 272 kg specimen (High, 1976).
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)
Teuthida (squid)
Species Maximum weight References Notes
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni 495 kg [Anonymous] (2007) Weight of mature specimen caught in early 2007. Originally estimated to weigh 450 kg (Anderton, 2007).
Architeuthis sp. 275 kg (female) O'Shea (2005a)

[edit] Shell diameter

Nautilus shells: N. macromphalus (left), A. scrobiculatus (centre), N. pompilius (right).
Nautilus shells: N. macromphalus (left), A. scrobiculatus (centre), N. pompilius (right).
Argonauta hians shell, 121.5 mm in diameter.
Argonauta hians shell, 121.5 mm in diameter.
Internal shell of Spirula spirula.
Internal shell of Spirula spirula.
Nautilida (nautiluses) (all extant species listed)
Species Maximum shell diameter References Notes
Nautilus pompilius pompilius 268 mm [1] Pisor (2005:93) lists maximum shell diameter of 254.0 mm. Nautilus repertus is treated here in synonymy with N. pompilius pompilius. Pisor (2005:93) lists 230.0 mm record for N. repertus.
Nautilus belauensis 226 mm Jereb (2005:54)
Allonautilus scrobiculatus 215.0 mm Pisor (2005:93)
Nautilus stenomphalus 201.0 mm Pisor (2005:93)
Allonautilus perforatus around 180 mm Jereb (2005:55)
Nautilus macromphalus 180.0 mm Pisor (2005:93)
Nautilus pompilius suluensis 148.0 mm Pisor (2005:93)
Octopoda (octopuses) (all extant Argonauta species listed)
Females of the genus Argonauta produce a calcareous eggcase in which they reside.
Species Maximum shell diameter References Notes
Argonauta argo 300.0 mm Pisor (2005:12)
Argonauta nodosa 292.0 mm Pisor (2005:12)
Argonauta pacifica‡ 220.0 mm Pisor (2005:12)
Argonauta hians 121.5 mm Pisor (2005:12) lists maximum shell diameter of 112.6 mm.
Argonauta cornuta‡ 98.6 mm Pisor (2005:12)
Argonauta nouryi 95.5 mm Pisor (2005:12)
Argonauta bottgeri 67.0 mm Pisor (2005:12)
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.
Species Maximum shell diameter References Notes
Spirula spirula 28.8 mm [2] Pisor (2005:108) lists maximum shell diameter of 26.9 mm.

‡ Species status questionable.

[edit] Extinct taxa

Cast of the 1.95 m Parapuzosia seppenradensis specimen.
Cast of the 1.95 m Parapuzosia seppenradensis specimen.
Ammonoidea (ammonites)
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.
Belemnoidea (belemnites)
Species Maximum rostrum length References Notes
Megateuthis gigantea 46 cm Eyden (2003) The whole belemnite is estimated to have been 3-5 m long.
Nautiloidea (nautiloids)
Species Maximum shell length References Notes
Cameroceras sp. 11 m (estimate) Teichert & Kummel (1960)
Vampyromorphida (vampire squid)
Species Maximum mantle length References Notes
Tusoteuthis longa over 1.8 m (estimate) Eyden (2004)

[edit] References

  • [Anonymous] 2007. Colossal squid may be headed for oven. Associated Press.
  • Anderton, H.J. 2007. Amazing specimen of world's largest squid in NZ. New Zealand Government website.
  • Bolstad, K. 2003. Deep-Sea Cephalopods: An Introduction and Overview. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
  • Carrington, D. 2000. Big squid breaks record. BBC News, July 3, 2000.
  • Cosgrove, J.A. 1987. Aspects of the Natural History of Octopus dofleini, the Giant Pacific Octopus. M.Sc. Thesis. Department of Biology, University of Victoria (Canada), 101 pp.
  • Eyden, P. 2003. Belemnites: A Quick Look. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
  • Eyden, P. 2004. Cretaceous Giant Squid. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
  • High, W.L. 1976. The giant Pacific octopus. U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Fisheries Review 38(9): 17-22.
  • 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.
  • (German) 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.
  • (Russian) 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. [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.]
  • (Russian) Nesis, K.N. 1985. A Giant Squid in the Sea of Okhotsk. Priroda 10: 112-113. [Translated from Russian by Yuri Nektorenko.]
  • 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. 2005a. Giant Squid and Colossal Squid Fact Sheet. The Octopus News Magazine Online.
  • O'Shea, S. 2005b. Kondakovia longimana. In: 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.
  • Roper C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney & C.E. Nauen 1984. Cephalopods of the world. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
  • Teichert, C. & B. Kummel 1960. Size of Endocerid Cephalopods. Breviora Mus. Comp. Zool. 128: 1–7.
  • Tsuchiya, K. & T. Okutani 1993. Rare and interesting squids in Japan -X. Recent occurrences of big squids from Okinawa. Venus 52: 299-311.
  • Verrill, A.E. 1876. Notes on gigantic cephalopods, a correction. American Journal of Science and Arts 12(3): 236-237.